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harry potter - Was it possible to detect blood status of a wizard without his/her family information?


In Harry Potter, was there a spell or magical tool to detect that a wizard was pure-blood, half-blood or muggle-blood? Or, did they simply use family information of a wizard? Was it possible for a wizard to hide his/her blood-status?



Answer




I think JKR contradicted herself here.


On one hand, there are hints that blood status is detectable, as @Slytherincess and @Kristen's answers state.


On the second hand, if so, there would be no point in Umbridge-chaired hearings to determine blood status that Hermione witnessed in DH when they infiltrated the Minitry - the hearing allowed people to "prove" their blood status by providing documentation.


If you can determine someone's blood status magically, documentation and hearings are 100% superfluous and un-needed.



"No," said Umbridge, "no, I don't think so, Mrs. Cattermole. Wands only choose witches or wizards. You are not a witch. I have your responses to the questionnaire that was sent to you here – Mafalda, pass them to me."
...
... A pity," she continued in a louder voice, flicking through Mrs. Cattermole's questionnaire, "that the same cannot be said for you. ' Parents professions: greengrocers'."



(Yes, I know the out-of-universe reason to show the hearing... my point is that it's contradictory from in-universe perspective).



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