AN: Thanks to SanityIsOverRatedGONUTS for the idea (better explanation at the end of the chapter, I don't want to spoil the surprise). Also, for those who are interested, I've created my own story site at rachelsstories(dot)weebly(dot)com. I've posted pictures that relate to my different stories, including what the Old Language looks like.

Chapter 9: Quibbler Article

Blood Status a Farce!

By Hermione Granger

In speaking with multiple so-called 'Pureblood' (heretofore referenced as 'all-magical parentage') witches and wizards, it became overtly obvious that the wizarding population has no remembrance of the foundation for the myriad prejudices perpetrated by demeaning names and superior attitudes.

As a Muggleborn witch, I found myself desperately trying to understand where the prejudices against all witches and wizards without all-magical parentage originated. My search led me to speak with many of my fellow Slytherins, as well as several students of other Hogwarts houses as well as conversing with their families by post.

What information I gleaned was troubling indeed. It would seem that the only fault found with Muggles is their lack of magic. Now, by this reasoning, there is no fault to be found with Muggleborn witches and wizards. However, this I found to be false.

Further inquiry into the matter led to a distressing discovery. It seems as though the fault found with Muggleborns is their lack of understanding of wizarding customs. As this is the case, I must ask, why are Muggleborns not taught wizarding customs?

The absolute least amount of time that a Muggleborn may have between being notified of his or her acceptance to Hogwarts and September 1st is one month; in most cases it is far more. This time, during which Muggleborns are typically left to their own devices, could be put to far better use teaching Muggleborns wizarding custom. Portkeys could be provided for these lessons, which could easily be held once a week on Saturdays or Sundays or even evenings. Perhaps even a required Wizard Studies class for first year students, as I find that not all wizarding families follow the same customs or are considered equals. However, I find myself rambling.

Now, surely, should this be done, Muggleborns would not be thought inferior to witches and wizards with all-magical parentage. Even then, however, I find that this would not be so. There lies the inherent inferiority perpetuated by such terms as 'Mudblood' and 'Pureblood'. I have heard these terms used often at Hogwarts.

These terms, I find, have long been known to be false. In present day, we are aware that magic resides in the soul, in the form of the magical core. However, before this discovery was made, it was believed that magic resided in the blood. This belief led to the terms 'Mudblood' (as it was believed that a Muggleborn witch or wizard had blood that was muddied by Muggle blood), 'Halfblood' (half non-magic blood, half magic blood), and 'Pureblood' (all magical blood).

Both the continued use of these terms after blood status was proven a false ideal, as well as the creation and use of these terms to begin with, are compelling evidence that there was an underlying prejudice towards Muggles and Muggleborn witches and wizards long before this time.

This led me to speak with the ghosts of Hogwarts in the hopes that, as they are older, they may be able to provide me with additional information. This search proved fruitful, indeed. I was able to trace two possible origins of the prejudice against Muggles and Muggleborn witches and wizards.

The first possible origin hearkens to the days of Merlin. According to legend, Merlin married a Muggleborn witch he fell in love with. She is said to have been extremely powerful. This marriage, however, is said to have made many of the older magical families jealous. Merlin was, obviously, the most eligible wizard of his age.

It was implied by the ghosts that the single women of the older magical families began spreading rumors about Merlin's wife. It was said about her that she was loose with her affections and rather uncultured. It was also said that Merlin only married her as she was easily controlled. This was a time of strong magical women, but submissive non-magical women. It is thought that Merlin's marriage is what started the trend among magical couples of the more submissive woman.

These rumors were written into the history books, as most writers of the time were women. These rumors were expanded upon to include all Muggleborn witches and wizards and eventually Muggles as well.

I came across the second possible origin in the Hogwarts library. I was directed there by Helena Ravenclaw, better known as the Grey Lady, ghost of Ravenclaw. She specifically recalled a book called The Most Ancient History of Witches and Wizards by Claudius Ptolemy.

I discovered that there only remain five copies the world over of this book. The copy at Hogwarts is very worn, despite obviously being protected by numerous preservation charms. This book details the very early history of humans, beginning with the first, most rudimentary settlements about 8,000 BC.

At this time, all humans were magical, and they remained so until the time of the Ancient Egyptians about 3,000 BC. About this time, a disease of unknown origin struck the world. Some humans survived with their magic intact, some died, and some lost their magic altogether. Those that retained their magic felt that the illness was a judgment set upon their world by the gods. Those that lost their magic were thought to have been found wanting. These humans were cast out of society and made slaves. They are the Muggles known today.

It is, however, Ptolemy's opinion, that the humans did not lose their magic, but rather their access to it, most likely caused by a near-death experience of sorts. Taking this opinion, I believe it is possible that this disease may have been attacking the magical core. Those with the absolute strongest cores were able to retain their magic, though possibly in a weakened state. Those with the weakest cores died, as too large a portion of their soul had been compromised to allow them to live. Those who survived but lost their magic had obviously not completely lost their magical cores, but had somehow had their magic bound, or so severely reduced that they were unable to use it, much in the same way as a Squib.

This phenomenon in the ancient world would explain so-called Muggleborns today. Perhaps all humans have a magical core of some strength, but simply do not have access to it. When two non-magical humans with strong magical cores give birth, their child's magical core is strong enough to break the genetic bonds on the magic and allow for a magical child. I would dearly love to test my theory on parents of Muggleborn children.

Perhaps an unbinding ceremony could be performed, thereby releasing their magic and providing them access to it. I am certain this new knowledge is something the Ministry, among others, will wish to investigate.

I truly hope that bringing this knowledge to light may help bring about a new era of thought in the wizarding world. In the same way that the English royal family has been known to marry commoners and accept commoners into their inner circle, so it is time for those with all-magical parentage to accept, mix with, and even marry those of partial magical or non-magical parentage.

Hermione finished reading her article in The Quibbler with tears in her eyes. She was proud of her research. She had ordered a subscription for her parents as well, and they should have received this issue this morning. She estimated at least half of the student body of Hogwarts had received copies of The Quibbler with the morning post. Their plan with the last article had worked well.

Luna had informed them about three days after the last issue that subscription was up by 300%. Half of the new subscribers were at Hogwarts, and her father guessed that most of the rest of the subscriptions were taken out by parents of Hogwarts students.

There was near silence in the hall as everyone read through Hermione's article, which was featured on the front page with a full-sized image of Ptolemy's book. The article itself featured images of ancient Egyptian wizards, Ptolemy, Helena Ravenclaw, and illustrations by Luna showing conceptualizations of magical cores.

There were even supplementary articles about the belief that magic resided in the blood and how it was proven false, an explanation of magical cores and how they powered witches and wizards, and Xenophilius' own thoughts about how certain stories about long-lived Muggles and extraordinary feats performed by Muggles in times of distress may simply be cases of Muggles with strong magical cores or Muggles performing accidental magic.

"You know, Mia," said Luna, dreamily. "Daddy said that this will be a great forerunner to the article about the founders. We really need to speak to Professor Binns soon as Daddy wants to run that article in the next issue, and it still needs to be written."

"We can talk to him this week," said Hermione. "I just hope this article does some good."

"Wow, Mia," said Draco, finally finishing the article. "I had no idea! This is amazing. You truly are brilliant, you know."

Hermione blushed. "Thanks, Dray."

Harry snickered at the nickname, but managed to keep it fairly silent. "You know, Mia, perhaps you could ask your parents if they would be interested in having the blood magic test. That would be the quickest and easiest way to look for a magical core."

"That's a good idea, Harry, but we don't know what an average non-magical human's magical core strength is."

"That's true," said Draco slowly, as an idea formed in his mind. "But we could test your parents first. If their core strength is zero, then there would be no place to go. However, if they have strong cores, or even weak cores, we could test some people who have not given birth to a witch or wizard, like those Muggles Harry lived with. I'm sure we could also surreptitiously test Muggles by claiming to be studying some Muggle disease and holding a clinic."

"Draco! Muggles aren't guinea pigs!"

"Huh?"

"Never mind, it's a Muggle saying. What I mean, though, is that we can't just round them up and test them."

"We could make it voluntary," put in Luna. "Run an advertisement in their newspaper, and offer two pounds to each person who offers their blood. I'm sure between the four of us we could come up with a plausible explanation for why we need it."

"That sounds reasonable. After all, we only need a few drops of blood. And it wouldn't cost us much. Each Galleon is worth about ten pounds right now."

"And I have plenty of Galleons. We could use the Potter money to fund it."

"Ooohh! We should ask Professor Snape if we could get school credit for this project!"

Draco only just managed to keep himself from rolling his eyes at his girlfriend. "Mia, you're already top of the class. However, if we have some good results, I'll ask father to use his influence to make sure you get recognition. I know that many times accomplishments by Muggleborns get overlooked, so I promise that won't happen."

Hermione blinked away tears. "Thank you, Draco. That means a lot to me." They shared a quick kiss before Harry sat up with an idea.

"Mia, I think you're right. I think we should speak to Professor Snape. If we do find interesting results, we would want the acknowledgement of the school to prove that we did the research, not someone else."

"Good point. Well, are we all finished with breakfast?" The friends all nodded to Hermione. "Then what are we waiting for? We have some letters to write."

AN: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It's a bit of a filler as far as furthering the school year, but it's important to the story. As mentioned, thanks to SanityIsOverRatedGONUTS for the idea about the ancient world where all humans were magical.