On Purity of Blood
A witch or wizard is of pure blood if all four of their grandparents are likewise of pure blood.
A witch or wizard is half-blooded if they possess at least one pure-blooded grandparent but also at least one Muggle grandparent.
A Muggle-born or Mudblood is the offspring of two Muggles, or of two Muggle-borns. The offspring of two Muggle-borns is no purer in blood than the offspring of two Muggles.
A blood-traitor is the name given to one of pure blood (as Henry Potter, Sirius Black, the Weasley family) who associates with Muggle-borns or with Muggles, one who takes no care of the purity of his bloodline, soiling it by association or worse by mating.
The
following markers of the pure-blooded child, as enumerated by learned works
appearing ‘around the early 18th century’ and drawing upon the
writings of Salazar Slytherin himself, might well be recalled –
i)
Onset of magical ability before the age of three.
ii)
Early prowess on the broomstick (before the age of
seven).
iii)
A dislike and fear of pigs and those who tend them,
for the pig is a particularly non-magical animal and notoriously difficult to
charm.
iv)
Resistance to common childhood illnesses.
v)
Outstanding physical beauty, in both boys and girls.
vi)
An aversion to Muggles, which may be seen even in the
pure-blooded infant, who shows signs of fear and disgust in their presence.
