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{{Pottermore}}
[[File:The potters hp.JPG|thumb|250px|right|Half-blood [[Harry Potter]] is the son of a [[pure-blood]] [[James Potter I|wizard]] and a [[Muggle-born]] [[Lily Evans|witch]].]]
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[[File:Potters3.gif|thumb|240px|Half-blood [[Harry Potter]] is the son of a [[pure-blood]] [[James Potter I|wizard]] and a [[Muggle-born]] [[Lily Evans|witch]]]]
{{quote|Most wizards these days are half-blood anyway. If we hadn’t married Muggles we’d’ve died out.|[[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] discussing [[blood purity]]|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets}}
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{{Quote|Most wizards these days are half-blood anyway. If we hadn’t married Muggles we’d’ve died out.|[[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] discussing [[blood purity]]|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets}}
   
 
'''Half-blood''' is the term commonly given to [[wizards|wizards and witches]] who have a Muggle/Muggle-born parent and magical parent. By the [[1990s]], half-bloods were the most common type of magical person, as the wizarding population would have become extinct had they not inter-married with Muggles and [[Muggle-born]]s.<ref name="CS">''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]''</ref>
 
'''Half-blood''' is the term commonly given to [[wizards|wizards and witches]] who have a Muggle/Muggle-born parent and magical parent. By the [[1990s]], half-bloods were the most common type of magical person, as the wizarding population would have become extinct had they not inter-married with Muggles and [[Muggle-born]]s.<ref name="CS">''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]''</ref>
Line 8: Line 8:
   
 
==Attitude towards half-bloods==
 
==Attitude towards half-bloods==
{{quote|You dare speak his name? YOU FILTHY HALF-BLOOD!|[[Bellatrix Lestrange]] to [[Harry Potter]] after he uses the name [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]]|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)}}
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{{Quote|You dare speak his name? YOU FILTHY HALF-BLOOD!|[[Bellatrix Lestrange]] to [[Harry Potter]] after he uses the name [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]]|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)}}
[[File:Voldemort&Co.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Lord Voldemort, who denies his half-blood status.]]
+
[[File:C0634d41d6_77756546_o2.jpg|thumb|left|140px|Lord Voldemort, who denies his half-blood status]]
  +
 
Those who believe in the importance of [[blood purity]] consider half-bloods to be inferior because of their [[Muggle]] heritage, though superior to [[Muggle-born]]s. Occasionally, the term "half-blood" can be used in a derogatory manner, similar to the epithet "[[Mudblood]]"; [[Bellatrix Lestrange]] and the portrait of [[Walburga Black]] did so on multiple occasions.<ref name="OTP">''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''</ref>
 
Those who believe in the importance of [[blood purity]] consider half-bloods to be inferior because of their [[Muggle]] heritage, though superior to [[Muggle-born]]s. Occasionally, the term "half-blood" can be used in a derogatory manner, similar to the epithet "[[Mudblood]]"; [[Bellatrix Lestrange]] and the portrait of [[Walburga Black]] did so on multiple occasions.<ref name="OTP">''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''</ref>
   
Some half-bloods expressed prejudice towards those with Muggle heritage, despite having some themselves, and clung to what wizarding heritage they had. Notably, [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] hated Muggles and [[Muggle-born]]s, despite having a Muggle [[Tom Riddle Sr.|father]], and denied his half-Muggle heritage, leaving hints that he was a pure-blood instead, emphasizing his heritage to the famous pure-blood ancestor, [[Salazar Slytherin]], to make himself more believable.<ref name="CS"/> [[Severus Snape]] may be another example; his self-entitled nickname was "[[Severus Snape|Half-Blood Prince]]" because his mother, [[Eileen Prince]], was a pure-blood witch and his father, [[Tobias Snape]], was a Muggle. However, [[Remus Lupin]] reported that he never used the nickname openly. This, as well as Snape's membership in the [[Death Eaters]], suggests he may have been ashamed of his Muggle heritage, at least in his early life.<ref name="HBP">''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]''</ref> In fact, these people, along with some other Death Eaters, pretend to be pure-bloods, hiding their Muggle heritage from anyone else; most of them are half-bloods due to centuries of dilution and decline of what may be called as a true "pure-blood". Ironically (or perhaps because of), regarding the Prophecy concerning his defeat, Voldemort chose to go after a half-blood [[Harry Potter]] instead of the pure-blood [[Neville Longbottom]].
+
Some half-bloods expressed prejudice towards those with Muggle heritage, despite having some themselves, and clung to what wizarding heritage they had. Notably, [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] hated Muggles and [[Muggle-born]]s, despite having a Muggle [[Tom Riddle Sr.|father]], and denied his half-Muggle heritage, leaving hints that he was a pure-blood instead, emphasizing his heritage to the famous pure-blood ancestor, [[Salazar Slytherin]], to make himself more believable.<ref name="CS"/> [[Severus Snape]] may be another example; his self-entitled nickname was "[[Severus Snape|''Half-Blood Prince'']]" because his mother, [[Eileen Prince]], was a pure-blood witch and his father, [[Tobias Snape]], was a Muggle. However, [[Remus Lupin]] reported that he never used the nickname openly. This, as well as Snape's membership in the [[Death Eaters]], suggests he may have been ashamed of his Muggle heritage, at least in his early life.<ref name="HBP">''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]''</ref> In fact, these people, along with some other Death Eaters, pretend to be pure-bloods, hiding their Muggle heritage from anyone else; most of them are half-bloods due to centuries of dilution and decline of what may be called as a true "pure-blood". Ironically (or perhaps because of), regarding the Prophecy concerning his defeat, Voldemort chose to go after a half-blood [[Harry Potter]] instead of the pure-blood [[Neville Longbottom]].
   
 
When the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] fell under Voldemort's control in [[1997]], [[Muggle-born]]s were openly persecuted and [[pure-blood]]s were favoured above all else. Half-bloods were still accepted at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]], but were not treated as well as the [[pure-blood]] students.<ref name="DH">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]''</ref>
 
When the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] fell under Voldemort's control in [[1997]], [[Muggle-born]]s were openly persecuted and [[pure-blood]]s were favoured above all else. Half-bloods were still accepted at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]], but were not treated as well as the [[pure-blood]] students.<ref name="DH">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]''</ref>
   
 
==Known half-bloods==
 
==Known half-bloods==
[[File:Snape OOP trailer.png|thumb|200px|right|Severus Snape]]
 
   
 
===Pure- or half-blood parent and Muggle parent===
 
===Pure- or half-blood parent and Muggle parent===
  +
<gallery widths="85" position="center" orientation="portrait" spacing="small">
*[[Seamus Finnigan]] pure- or half-blood [[Seamus Finnigan's mother|mother]], Muggle [[Seamus Finnigan's father|father]]
 
  +
SeamusFinnigan.jpg|[[Seamus Finnigan]]
*[[Gilderoy Lockhart]] pure- or half-blood [[Gilderoy Lockhart's mother|mother]], Muggle [[Gilderoy Lockhart's father|father]]<ref name="lockhart">[[Pottermore]] - [http://www.pottermore.com/en/book2/chapter13/moment2/gilderoy-lockhart New From J. K. Rowling - Gilderoy Lockhart]</ref>
 
  +
Kenneth Branagh as Gilderoy-Lockhart (6).jpg|[[Gilderoy Lockhart]]
*[[Remus Lupin]] pure- or half-blood [[Lyall Lupin|father]], Muggle [[Hope Howell|mother]]<ref name="lupin">[[Pottermore]] - [http://www.pottermore.com/en/book3/chapter22/moment1/remus-lupin New From J. K. Rowling - Remus Lupin]</ref>
 
  +
Remus Lupin Deathly Hallows promo image.jpg|[[Remus Lupin]]
*[[Mafalda]] pure-blood [[Squib]] or [[wizard]] [[Molly Weasley's second cousin|father]], Muggle [[Mafalda's mother|mother]]
 
  +
Minerva Mcgonagall answer 8 xlarge.jpeg|[[Minerva McGonagall]]
*[[Minerva McGonagall]] pure- or half-blood [[Isobel McGonagall|mother]], Muggle [[Robert McGonagall|father]]<ref name="pottermore">[[Pottermore]] biography of [[Minerva McGonagall]] (transcription available [http://forums.darklordpotter.net/showpost.php?s=4a2e751bddc00f9618a0b1bb6d9ce6fc&p=481284&postcount=443 here])</ref>
 
  +
Tom Riddle Half-Blood Prince Profile.jpg|[[Tom Riddle]]
*[[Malcolm McGonagall]] pure- or half-blood [[Isobel McGonagall|mother]], Muggle [[Robert McGonagall|father]]<ref name="pottermore">[[Pottermore]] biography of [[Minerva McGonagall]] (transcription available [http://forums.darklordpotter.net/showpost.php?s=4a2e751bddc00f9618a0b1bb6d9ce6fc&p=481284&postcount=443 here])</ref>
 
  +
Severus-snape1.jpg|[[Severus Snape]]
*[[Robert McGonagall Jr.]] pure- or half-blood [[Isobel McGonagall|mother]], Muggle [[Robert McGonagall|father]]<ref name="pottermore">[[Pottermore]] biography of [[Minerva McGonagall]] (transcription available [http://forums.darklordpotter.net/showpost.php?s=4a2e751bddc00f9618a0b1bb6d9ce6fc&p=481284&postcount=443 here])</ref>
 
  +
Deanthomas prop.PNG|[[Dean Thomas]]
*[[Tom Riddle|Tom Marvolo Riddle/Lord Voldemort]] pure-blood [[Merope Gaunt|mother]], Muggle [[Tom Riddle Sr.|father]]
 
  +
Trelawney21.jpg|[[Sybill Trelawney]]
*[[Severus Snape]] pure-blood [[Eileen Prince|mother]], Muggle [[Tobias Snape|father]]
 
  +
Celestina Warbeck Wizarding World.png|[[Celestina Warbeck]]
*[[Dean Thomas]] pure- or half-blood [[Dean Thomas's father|father]], Muggle [[Dean Thomas's mother|mother]]
 
  +
Dolores Umbridge Deathly Hallows promotional image.jpg|[[Dolores Umbridge]]
*[[Bowman Wright]] pure- or half-blood [[Bowman Wright's mother|mother]], Muggle [[Bowman Wright's father|father]]
 
  +
BowmanWright.png|[[Bowman Wright]]
[[File:Nymphadora Tonks.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Nymphadora Tonks]]
 
  +
</gallery>
 
*[[Seamus Finnigan]] - pure- or half-blood [[Seamus Finnigan's mother|mother]], Muggle [[Seamus Finnigan's father|father]]
 
*[[Gilderoy Lockhart]] - pure- or half-blood [[Gilderoy Lockhart's mother|mother]], Muggle [[Gilderoy Lockhart's father|father]]<ref name="lockhart">[[Pottermore]] - [http://www.pottermore.com/en/book2/chapter13/moment2/gilderoy-lockhart New From J. K. Rowling - Gilderoy Lockhart]</ref>
 
*[[Remus Lupin]] - pure- or half-blood [[Lyall Lupin|father]], Muggle [[Hope Howell|mother]]<ref name="lupin">[[Pottermore]] - [http://www.pottermore.com/en/book3/chapter22/moment1/remus-lupin New From J. K. Rowling - Remus Lupin]</ref>
 
*[[Mafalda]] - pure-blood [[Squib]] or [[wizard]] [[Molly Weasley's second cousin|father]], Muggle [[Mafalda's mother|mother]]
 
*[[Minerva McGonagall]] - pure- or half-blood [[Isobel McGonagall|mother]], Muggle [[Robert McGonagall|father]]<ref name="pottermore">[[Pottermore]] - [http://www.pottermore.com/en-us/book5/chapter27/moment2/professor-mcgonagall New From J. K. Rowling - Minerva McGonagall]</ref>
 
*[[Malcolm McGonagall]] - pure- or half-blood [[Isobel McGonagall|mother]], Muggle [[Robert McGonagall|father]]<ref name="pottermore" />
 
*[[Robert McGonagall Jr.]] - pure- or half-blood [[Isobel McGonagall|mother]], Muggle [[Robert McGonagall|father]]<ref name="pottermore" />
 
*[[Tom Riddle|Tom Marvolo Riddle/Lord Voldemort]] - pure-blood [[Merope Gaunt|mother]], Muggle [[Tom Riddle Sr.|father]]
 
*[[Severus Snape]] - pure-blood [[Eileen Prince|mother]], Muggle [[Tobias Snape|father]]
 
*[[Dean Thomas]] - pure- or half-blood [[Dean Thomas's father|father]], Muggle [[Dean Thomas's mother|mother]]
 
* [[Sybill Trelawney]] - pure- or half-blood father, Muggle mother
  +
*[[Celestina Warbeck]] - pure- or half-blood [[Celestina Warbeck's father|father]], Muggle [[Celestina Warbeck's mother|mother]]<ref name="celestinawarbeck">[[Pottermore]] - [http://www.pottermore.com/en-us/book2/chapter4/moment1/celestina-warbeck New From J. K. Rowling - Celestina Warbeck]</ref>
  +
*[[Dolores Umbridge]] - pure- or half-blood [[Orford Umbridge|father]], Muggle [[Ellen Cracknell|mother]]<ref>[[Pottermore]] - [http://www.pottermore.com/en/book5/chapter13/moment1/dolores-umbridge New from J.K. Rowling - Dolores Umbridge]</ref>
 
*[[Bowman Wright]] - pure- or half-blood [[Bowman Wright's mother|mother]], Muggle [[Bowman Wright's father|father]]
   
 
===Pure- or half-blood parent and Muggle-born parent===
 
===Pure- or half-blood parent and Muggle-born parent===
  +
<gallery widths="85" orientation="portrait" spacing="small" position="center">
*[[Alfred Cattermole]] pure- or half-blood [[Reginald Cattermole|father]], Muggle-born [[Mary Cattermole|mother]]
 
  +
Aberforth1.PNG|[[Aberforth Dumbledore]]
*[[Ellie Cattermole]] pure- or half-blood father, Muggle-born mother
 
  +
600full-Albus-Dumbledore-the-prisoner-of-azkaban-photo.jpg|[[Albus Dumbledore]]
*[[Maisie Cattermole]] pure- or half-blood father, Muggle-born mother
 
  +
ArianaDumbledorePortrait.jpg|[[Ariana Dumbledore]]
*[[Cresswell brothers]] pure- or half-blood [[Dirk Cresswell's wife|mother]], Muggle-born [[Dirk Cresswell|father]]
 
  +
GarrickOllivander.png|[[Garrick Ollivander]]
*[[Aberforth Dumbledore]] pure- or half-blood [[Percival Dumbledore|father]], Muggle-born [[Kendra Dumbledore|mother]]
 
  +
Harry Potter movies hbp promostills 6.jpg|[[Harry Potter]]
*[[Albus Dumbledore]] pure- or half-blood [[Percival Dumbledore|father]], Muggle-born [[Kendra Dumbledore|mother]]
 
  +
Nymphadora Tonks Deathly Hallows promotional image.jpg|[[Nymphadora Tonks]]
*[[Ariana Dumbledore]] pure- or half-blood [[Percival Dumbledore|father]], Muggle-born [[Kendra Dumbledore|mother]]
 
  +
Hugo WeasleyDH2 3.png|[[Hugo Weasley]]
*[[Garrick Ollivander]] pure- or half-blood [[Garrick Ollivander's father|father]], Muggle-born [[Garrick Ollivander's mother|mother]]<ref name="ollivander">Pottermore background information on Ollivander (transcription available [http://lady-slytherin-forever.tumblr.com/post/8978736031/information-about-ollivander here])</ref>
 
  +
Rose WeasleyDH2.png|[[Rose Weasley]]
*[[Harry Potter]] pure-blood [[James Potter I|father]], Muggle-born [[Lily Evans|mother]]
 
  +
</gallery>
*[[Nymphadora Tonks]] pure-blood [[Andromeda Tonks|mother]], Muggle-born [[Ted Tonks|father]]
 
*[[Hugo Weasley]] pure-blood father, Muggle-born mother
+
*[[Alfred Cattermole]] - pure- or half-blood [[Reginald Cattermole|father]], Muggle-born [[Mary Cattermole|mother]]
*[[Rose Weasley]] pure-blood [[Ronald Weasley|father]], Muggle-born [[Hermione Granger|mother]]
+
*[[Ellie Cattermole]] - pure- or half-blood father, Muggle-born mother
 
*[[Maisie Cattermole]] - pure- or half-blood father, Muggle-born mother
[[File:Seamus FinnigansG.PNG|thumb|150px|Seamus Finnigan]]
 
 
*[[Cresswell brothers]] - pure- or half-blood [[Dirk Cresswell's wife|mother]], Muggle-born [[Dirk Cresswell|father]]
 
*[[Aberforth Dumbledore]] - pure- or half-blood [[Percival Dumbledore|father]], Muggle-born [[Kendra Dumbledore|mother]]
 
*[[Albus Dumbledore]] - pure- or half-blood [[Percival Dumbledore|father]], Muggle-born [[Kendra Dumbledore|mother]]
 
*[[Ariana Dumbledore]] - pure- or half-blood [[Percival Dumbledore|father]], Muggle-born [[Kendra Dumbledore|mother]]
 
*[[Garrick Ollivander]] - pure- or half-blood [[Garrick Ollivander's father|father]], Muggle-born [[Garrick Ollivander's mother|mother]]<ref name="ollivander">[[Pottermore]] - [http://www.pottermore.com/en-us/book4/chapter18/moment2/mr-ollivander New From J. K. Rowling - Mr Ollivander]</ref>
 
*[[Harry Potter]] - pure-blood [[James Potter I|father]], Muggle-born [[Lily Evans|mother]]
 
*[[Nymphadora Tonks]] - pure-blood [[Andromeda Tonks|mother]], Muggle-born [[Ted Tonks|father]]
 
*[[Hugo Weasley]] - pure-blood father, Muggle-born mother
 
*[[Rose Weasley]] - pure-blood [[Ronald Weasley|father]], Muggle-born [[Hermione Granger|mother]]
   
 
===Two half-blood parents===
 
===Two half-blood parents===
*[[Ted Lupin|Teddy Lupin]] half-blood [[Remus Lupin|father]], half-blood [[Nymphadora Tonks|mother]]
+
*[[Ted Lupin|Teddy Lupin]] - half-blood [[Remus Lupin|father]], half-blood [[Nymphadora Tonks|mother]]
   
 
===Two magical parents, known Muggle ancestry===
 
===Two magical parents, known Muggle ancestry===
 
<!-- The Potter children's great-grandparents, [[Lily Evans's father|Mr.]] and [[Lily Evans's mother|Mrs. Evans]] (Lily's parents), were Muggles; this is their known Muggle ancestry. The source currently used for defining blood purity defines pure-bloods as having NO Muggle heritage, therefore they are considered half-bloods. -->
 
<!-- The Potter children's great-grandparents, [[Lily Evans's father|Mr.]] and [[Lily Evans's mother|Mrs. Evans]] (Lily's parents), were Muggles; this is their known Muggle ancestry. The source currently used for defining blood purity defines pure-bloods as having NO Muggle heritage, therefore they are considered half-bloods. -->
  +
*[[Albus Potter|Albus Severus Potter]] half-blood father, pure-blood mother
 
  +
<gallery orientation="portrait" widths="85">
*[[James Potter II|James Sirius Potter]] half-blood [[Harry Potter|father]], pure-blood [[Ginevra Weasley|mother]]
 
  +
AlbusSevPotter.jpg|[[Albus Potter]]
*[[Lily Potter|Lily Luna Potter]] half-blood father, pure-blood mother
 
  +
HPDH2-3922.jpg|[[James Potter II]]
  +
Lily PotterDH2.png|[[Lily Potter II]]
  +
</gallery>
 
*[[Albus Potter|Albus Severus Potter]] -half-blood father, pure-blood mother
 
*[[James Potter II|James Sirius Potter]] - half-blood [[Harry Potter|father]], pure-blood [[Ginevra Weasley|mother]]
  +
*[[Lily Potter|Lily Luna Potter]] - half-blood father, pure-blood mother
   
 
===Unknown combination of parental status===
 
===Unknown combination of parental status===
  +
<gallery widths="85" orientation="portrait">
*[[Hannah Abbott]] at least one known Muggle ancestor
 
  +
Hannah Abbott .jpg|[[Hannah Abbott]]
*[[Susan Bones]] at least one known Muggle grandparent
 
  +
Susan01.png|[[Susan Bones]]
*[[Millicent Bulstrode]] at least one known Muggle ancestor
 
  +
Millicent in class.jpg|[[Millicent Bulstrode]]
*[[Mundungus Fletcher]] at least one known Muggle ancestor
 
  +
Quirinus-Quirrel 458.jpg|[[Quirinus Quirrell]]
*[[Garrick Ollivander's son|Master Ollivander]] half-blood [[Garrick Ollivander|father]], maternal ancestry unknown<ref name="ollivander" />
 
  +
</gallery>
*[[Garrick Ollivander's daughter|Miss Ollivander]] half-blood father, maternal ancestry unknown<ref name="ollivander" />
 
 
*[[Hannah Abbott]] - at least one known Muggle ancestor
*[[Quirinus Quirrell]] — at least one known Muggle ancestor<ref name="quirrell">[[Pottermore]] background information for Quirinus Quirrell (screenshot available [http://lady-slytherin-forever.tumblr.com/post/8979013384/information-about-quirrell-i-love-how-these-are here])</ref>
 
 
*[[Susan Bones]] - at least one known Muggle grandparent
 
*[[Millicent Bulstrode]] - at least one known Muggle ancestor
 
*[[Mundungus Fletcher]] - at least one known Muggle ancestor
 
*[[Garrick Ollivander's son|Master Ollivander]] - half-blood [[Garrick Ollivander|father]], maternal ancestry unknown<ref name="ollivander" />
 
*[[Garrick Ollivander's daughter|Miss Ollivander]] - half-blood father, maternal ancestry unknown<ref name="ollivander" />
  +
*[[Quirinus Quirrell]] - at least one known Muggle ancestor<ref name="quirrell">[[Pottermore]] - [http://www.pottermore.com/en-us/book1/chapter17/moment2/professor-quirrell New From J. K. Rowling - Professor Quirrell]</ref>
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
==Behind the scenes==
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[[fr:Sang-Mêlé]]
 
[[fr:Sang-Mêlé]]
 
[[fi:Puoliverinen]]
 
[[fi:Puoliverinen]]
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[[pl:Półkrwi]]
 
[[Category:Half-bloods| ]]
 
[[Category:Half-bloods| ]]
 
[[Category:Genetics]]
 
[[Category:Genetics]]

Revision as of 18:37, 1 March 2015

Potters3

Half-blood Harry Potter is the son of a pure-blood wizard and a Muggle-born witch

"Most wizards these days are half-blood anyway. If we hadn’t married Muggles we’d’ve died out."
Ron Weasley discussing blood purity[src]

Half-blood is the term commonly given to wizards and witches who have a Muggle/Muggle-born parent and magical parent. By the 1990s, half-bloods were the most common type of magical person, as the wizarding population would have become extinct had they not inter-married with Muggles and Muggle-borns.[1]

Due to the dominance of the magic gene, children born to at least one magical parent will almost always be magical themselves. A non-magical child born to a Muggle and a wizard is considered a Squib (not a Muggle).[2]

Attitude towards half-bloods

"You dare speak his name? YOU FILTHY HALF-BLOOD!"
Bellatrix Lestrange to Harry Potter after he uses the name Voldemort[src]
File:C0634d41d6 77756546 o2.jpg

Lord Voldemort, who denies his half-blood status

Those who believe in the importance of blood purity consider half-bloods to be inferior because of their Muggle heritage, though superior to Muggle-borns. Occasionally, the term "half-blood" can be used in a derogatory manner, similar to the epithet "Mudblood"; Bellatrix Lestrange and the portrait of Walburga Black did so on multiple occasions.[3]

Some half-bloods expressed prejudice towards those with Muggle heritage, despite having some themselves, and clung to what wizarding heritage they had. Notably, Lord Voldemort hated Muggles and Muggle-borns, despite having a Muggle father, and denied his half-Muggle heritage, leaving hints that he was a pure-blood instead, emphasizing his heritage to the famous pure-blood ancestor, Salazar Slytherin, to make himself more believable.[1] Severus Snape may be another example; his self-entitled nickname was "Half-Blood Prince" because his mother, Eileen Prince, was a pure-blood witch and his father, Tobias Snape, was a Muggle. However, Remus Lupin reported that he never used the nickname openly. This, as well as Snape's membership in the Death Eaters, suggests he may have been ashamed of his Muggle heritage, at least in his early life.[4] In fact, these people, along with some other Death Eaters, pretend to be pure-bloods, hiding their Muggle heritage from anyone else; most of them are half-bloods due to centuries of dilution and decline of what may be called as a true "pure-blood". Ironically (or perhaps because of), regarding the Prophecy concerning his defeat, Voldemort chose to go after a half-blood Harry Potter instead of the pure-blood Neville Longbottom.

When the Ministry of Magic fell under Voldemort's control in 1997, Muggle-borns were openly persecuted and pure-bloods were favoured above all else. Half-bloods were still accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but were not treated as well as the pure-blood students.[5]

Known half-bloods

Pure- or half-blood parent and Muggle parent

Pure- or half-blood parent and Muggle-born parent

Two half-blood parents

Two magical parents, known Muggle ancestry

Unknown combination of parental status

Behind the scenes

  • On J. K. Rowling's draft list of students in Harry Potter's class, which is not considered canon due to several contradictions with the novels, the following students were mentioned as half-bloods:[13]

Appearances

See also

Notes and references