Pure-blood supremacy

"I really don't think they should let the other sort in, do you? They're just not the same, they've never been brought up to know our ways. Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families."

- Draco Malfoy to Harry Potter before their first year at Hogwarts

Pure-blood supremacy is the belief that wizards and witches whose known ancestry is exclusively magical (pure-bloods) are inherently superior to wizards and witches who have traceable Muggle ancestry (Muggle-borns and half-bloods). Proponents of this ideology typically regard Muggle-born wizards as impure and not worthy of possessing magical ability and often actively discriminate against them.

Attitude and beliefs
Pure-blood supremacists consider themselves to be the elite of the wizarding world, akin to royalty. They look down upon half-bloods, Muggle-borns, and half-breeds, and consider the Muggle world to be inferior to their own. Pure-bloods, and even half-bloods, who do not share this view are considered traitors to their own kind, hence the term "blood traitor." They are considered disgraces by pure-blood supremecists such as the Malfoys.

Elitist pure-bloods believe that it is a sign of weak magic to enjoy non-magical company and seem to believe that some of the supposed dirtiness of Muggles and Muggle-borns will rub off on those who associate with them, thus they consider blood traitors to be "filthy" as well.

Some extremists consider blood traitors to be nearly as bad as the Muggle-borns they are prejudiced against. Bellatrix Lestrange, for example, claimed that "blood traitor is next to Mudblood in [her] book," and her family often disowned and blasted off the family tree any members who could be considered blood traitors. Blood traitors might also be shunned by their families and acquaintances; for example, Bellatrix and her younger sister Narcissa Malfoy stopped seeing their sister Andromeda after she married a Muggle-born wizard, Ted Tonks.

Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters targeted blood traitors during the First and Second Wizarding Wars because they opposed their goals. When they were temporarily in control of the Ministry of Magic in late 1997 and early 1998, they kept blood traitors such as Arthur Weasley under surveillance. However, even most Death Eaters were reluctant to kill pure-bloods, even "traitorous" ones, if it could be avoided. The same situation existed at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry while Voldemort was in power.

Pure-blood elitism
"Toujours Pur"

- "Always Pure," the motto of the House of Black.

The most extreme of the pure-blood supremacists seek to purge the world of those they consider "impure." They often tolerate half-bloods out of necessity, but muggle-borns are persecuted, and muggles are viewed as nothing more than animals.



Pure-blood bias
"Your mother was Muggle-born, of course. Couldn't believe it when I found out. Thought she must have been pure-blood, she was so good."

- Horace Slughorn to Harry Potter.

Some wizards, while believing in the inherent superiority of pure-bloods, do not actively discriminate against muggle-borns and are even accepting of them in some cases.




 * It is unknown if Muriel could be considered biased, as she once condescendingly referred to Hermione Granger as "the muggle-born" at her nephew's wedding. However, as Ron pointed out, she was rude to everyone. She also made snide remarks about Fleur Delacour, not because she was a Half-breed, but because she was French.

Wizarding supremacists
"Gellert – Your point about Wizard dominance FOR THE MUGGLES' OWN GOOD – this, I think, is the crucial point. Yes, we have been given power and yes, that power gives us the right to rule, but it also gives us responsibilities over the ruled."

- A letter from the young Albus Dumbledore to Gellert Grindelwald.

Many wizards, even those who oppose discrimination based on blood status, regard themselves as superior to the non-magical muggles. While many are content with simply remaining separate from muggle society, some believe that the world would be a better place with wizards in charge.




 * Percival Dumbledore gained a reputation as a muggle-hater for his attack on three muggle boys. What was not widely known however, was that his attack was an act of retribution for their assault on his daughter Ariana, which left her severely traumatised. He never revealed the true motives for his attack to prevent his daughter from being confined to St. Mungo's for the rest of her life. As his wife Kendra was a muggle-born witch, it is debatable whether Percival harboured any prejudicial views.
 * The Wizard in The Wizard and the Hopping Pot believed that Muggles were worthless, in contrast with his father's attitude. However, after the Hopping Pot began relentlessly tormenting him for not helping his Muggle neighbours, he changed his opinion and started helping the Muggles.

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
 * Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows