Bloodline

After class, Hermione was still immersed in the lesson from earlier.

The experience of personally sensing the flow of magic had nearly intoxicated her completely. But once that "Magic Cube" vanished, she felt an unprecedented emptiness.

She was unwilling to accept it.

"Professor," she suddenly asked, "you mentioned purifying Norberta's bloodline. Does that mean wizards also possess 'bloodlines'?"

Lin An looked up and smiled faintly.

"You understand correctly, Miss Granger. Bloodlines do indeed exist."

"Then... does that mean the idea of 'Pure-blood Supremacy' is actually true?" Hermione asked tentatively.

The moment she finished speaking, the room fell silent.

Harry, Ron, and Hagrid all held their breaths and looked at Lin An.

After a moment of silence, he answered, "The answer to that question is both yes and no."

They looked at one another.

"What does that mean?" Ron scratched his head, clearly unable to make sense of it.

Lin An let out a soft sigh, his tone calm. "I have recently been researching the origins of wizards. The result shocked me—wizards' ancestors were originally ordinary people. They merely shared bloodlines with magical creatures by injecting their blood or performing certain rituals. That was how the 'first generation of wizards' came into being."

"So wizards weren't born that way?" Hermione asked in surprise.

"Precisely." Lin An nodded. "After that, through several centuries of reproduction, wizard bloodlines stabilized and gradually formed the magical system of today. The strength of one's magic and one's talent for casting spells essentially depend on bloodline activity."

He paused, then added, "I once conducted experiments, attempting to implant magical creature bloodlines into Muggles. They all failed. Modern magical creatures have long since degenerated; their blood no longer possesses the 'resonance' it once had."

A trace of regretful amusement appeared on his face. "But after seeing Norberta today, I have a new idea—if her bloodline can be purified, perhaps the bloodlines of ancient wizards can be recreated."

The room fell into silence.

Hermione frowned and said softly, "But... doesn't that prove that pure-blood wizards really are stronger?"

"In theory, yes," Lin An said calmly. "But that was only ancient logic."

He paused, his tone shifting. "Back then, 'bloodline blending' could indeed improve the talents of one's descendants. But everything comes at a cost. After several generations of inbreeding, these families often developed a terrifying problem—infertility."

He said it lightly, yet everyone felt a chill run through them.

Most of the "fallen families" you have heard of met their end this way. The so-called advocates of Pure-blood Supremacy today have merely distorted their ancestors' ideas. They do not understand bloodline power at all, yet use the concept to suppress half-bloods and Muggle-born wizards."

Harry said quietly, "So that means people like Hermione, Ron, and me... also have special bloodlines?"

"Of course." Lin An smiled, his gaze sweeping across the three of them. "And each is different."

He looked first at Harry. "The Potter Family is connected to the Peverell Brothers."

"Are those the three from the Tale of the Three Brothers?" Ron asked in surprise.

"My mum used to tell me that story when I was little."

Harry was stunned as well. He had heard the tale: three brothers made a deal with Bleach and obtained three powerful relics.

"That's right." Lin An nodded. "The Potter Family descends from Ignatus Peverell. He was the only one who escaped Bleach's pursuit. Whatever method he used, his wisdom and caution left behind a unique resistance to the soul and a talent for concealment in his bloodline. That is why you can remain rational in the presence of deathly aura."

Harry blinked, somewhat bewildered, but still straightened his back instinctively.

Lin An then turned to Ron.

"The Weasley Family's bloodline is special as well."

Ron froze and pointed at himself. "My family? What's special about us? We can barely afford any gold."

Lin An smiled. "Poverty has nothing to do with talent. Your family's bloodline is exceptionally active. Think about it: your family has seven children, yet not a single one is a Squib. In the Wizarding World, that is practically a miracle."

Ron's eyes widened. "That... is a good thing?"

"Of course it is." Lin An spoke evenly. "Most wizarding families only have one or two children per generation who awaken magic. The rest are either ordinary or weakly gifted. But in your Weasley Family, from Quidditch talent to the twins' talent for alchemical invention, every person has distinctive traits. That shows your bloodline inheritance is extremely strong, stable, and possesses an advantage in reproduction."

Harry and Hermione exchanged glances. For the first time, a proud expression appeared on Ron's face.

Lin An continued, "By my estimation, if the Weasley Family had sufficient resources and education, you could absolutely become an exceptionally powerful family."

Ron scratched his head and smiled sheepishly, his face red.

He had never imagined that being "poor" could be connected to having a "powerful bloodline."

Lin An gently shifted his gaze toward Hermione.

"As for you, Miss Granger—your bloodline is an anomaly."

Hermione sat up nervously.

"You possess nearly perfect memory and an exceptionally high affinity for magic. The purity of your magic even surpasses that of most pure-blood wizards. Do you know what that means? It means that, on some level, your family suddenly 'awakened' ancient genetic factors in this generation."

"So that means my ancestors once...?"

"Perhaps they possessed a sealed magical bloodline, or perhaps they were some kind of ancient mixed-bloods," Lin An answered calmly.

"That it became active again in your generation may simply be chance. But regardless, your talent is beyond doubt."

Hermione parted her lips slightly, but did not know what to say.

She had always believed she was merely a Muggle-born girl who could only keep up with others through hard work. She had never expected... that she possessed such a "bloodline" as well.

Seeing her expression, Lin An smiled faintly. "Among your first-years, the only one who can probably compare with Hermione is Susan Bones. After all, she has received magical training from me since childhood."

At the mention of Susan's name, Hermione's expression changed slightly.

In that instant, a complicated emotion surged within her—Envy? Unwillingness? Or simply the desire to compete? Even she could not say for certain.

Lin An did not continue. Instead, he put away his notebook and summarized in an even tone:

"Bloodline is not a badge of honor, but a kind of potential. Without thought and effort, it is merely a sleeping river."

He rose to his feet and walked to the window.

The night breeze stirred the curtains, and moonlight fell across his face.

"And magic," he said slowly, "has never belonged to one's origins. It belongs to those who dare to explore."

No one spoke.

Harry and Ron remained silent. Hermione pressed her lips together, her expression resolute.

They all understood—

This was not merely a lesson about "bloodlines," but a revelation about "Self-awakening."