Genetics For Purebloods
November 2006
Disclaimer: If you recognize it, it's probably not mine (unless you live in my brain, in which case, you should get out.) I'm pretty sure that there's only JKR stuff in this one, but I'm a compulsive borrower of lines and ideas, so if it's yours, let me know, and I'll cite you. :-D
Lucius Malfoy was a pragmatic idealist. Raised in a household of Pureblood Supremacists, he knew, never the less, that their ideas were wrong. There was no more genetic difference between the highest pureblood Lords and the meanest muggle delivery boy than there was between the golden haired Malfoy and inky haired Snape. If the genetic differences were anywhere near as advanced as some purebloods claimed, there would be no resemblance whatsoever between the two races. Which there clearly was. But Lucius was also sure, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that inter-breeding between purebloods and anyone with muggle blood should be banned.
It wasn't that he thought muggles were dirty, or diseased. It was just; he called it, simple genetics. Introduce a human with even one non-magical chromosome, and, all of a sudden, there was a chance of a child carrying on that dysfunctional gene. And what if that child married someone with another single non-magical chromosome. Suddenly, there was a chance of producing a squib, with no magical genes at all. A few generations of that, Lucius rationalized, and the wizerding community would shrink down to non-existence. For those who asserted that that was likely to happen anyway, because of pureblood inter-breeding, Lucius had another argument.
All purebloods could trace their genealogy back at least to the dawn of Christianity. They were raised to know which families had long-lasting curses or histories of insanity, and which had ancient feuds. Any wizerding child could tell you that the most important think to do before marriage- or indeed, before any relationship- was to make bloody well sure that there was nothing wrong with the lineage. But muggles didn't have the benefit of that. For all their modern medicines, they often couldn't name even their grandparents, or in many cases, their parents. Warnings of curses or diseases carried in the blood were virtually non-existent. And introducing a hemophilia gene or a seventh-son of a seventh-son curse could decimate the wizerding population.
When Lucius began discussing pureblood superiority with Tom Riddle in Hogsmead, he merely hoped to bring the issue to the attention of the public, and pursue his goals through legal avenues. Bring awareness to the people, he thought, and let them decide for themselves. Even if it's only a few Weasleys marrying back into the Blood Houses, or a few mudbloods (oh no, he had no problem with that word) confining their- intercourse- to other mudbloods and half-bloods, it would be worth it. He was a Slytherin, and slytherins knew that every little bit added up.
At the Awards Ceremony in his seventh year, Lucius spoke to a shocked crowd of students, parents and ministry officials about equality. He explained that everyone who could learn should be taught magic, whether they could afford Hogwarts or not, but that the Pureblood families should each keep pure lines going, to ensure Magic in future generations. He spoke eloquently, in his drawling, cultured voice, acknowledging both side's points and suggesting a peaceful, easy compromise. When he was finished, a few of the pureblood Aurors and ministry officers applauded enthusiastically. Sirius Black nodded approvingly and a few of the more idealistic students looked interested. Later that evening, the Minister of Magic congratulated him on 'inventive and forward looking ideas,' and offered him a post at the ministry.
It didn't make up for the stony silence from his fellow Slytherins. The next morning, he became the first Death Eater to take the Dark Mark.