The Ancient Wizards of Hogwarts

The next morning, in Professor McGonagall's office, Ash submitted a paper.

Professor McGonagall initially opened the paper with encouraging thoughts, but when she saw the arguments mentioned in the paper, she looked a little surprised.

The argument of this paper is not complicated, but it is surprising enough because it directly states the topic in the first sentence of the card:

Wizards are closer to magical creatures than humans.

The further she looked back, the more frightened Professor McGonagall became. She couldn't help but look up at Ash who was sitting across from the desk and asked:

"Did you write this yourself?"

"Yes."

Ash said modestly, "I referred to some papers and documents in the library, which are marked at the end of the paper."

Professor McGonagall praised:

"No need to be modest. The theory you proposed is quite new. This cannot be achieved by referring to those old documents."

"Although I don't fully agree with your concept, I can't deny its possibility."

Professor McGonagall paused briefly and made no secret of her appreciation for Ash:

"Most wizards have always believed that they are more noble than Muggles. Even in the papers of some blood supremacists, they tried to prove that wizards are higher beings than any other species. But you are trying to separate wizards from humans. They are independent and divided into the ranks of the magic race, which is completely opposite to them."

"Although the concept is somewhat radical, the arguments you present in your paper are indeed difficult to refute."

"However, I still have a question that I hope you can answer."

Ash nodded lightly: "Of course, I'm happy to answer."

Professor McGonagall adjusted her glasses and said:

"According to the views expressed in your paper, you divide magical creatures into two categories, non-human and humanoid.

"From the Niffler, the Silencer, to the Hippogriff, the Thestral, to the unicorn, dragon, and phoenix, these are all inhuman."

"And centaurs, giants, merfolk, werewolves, goblins, veela and vampires are all humanoids along with wizards."

"What is your criterion for classification? Is it based on appearance? Or is it high IQ?"

Mag didn't hide her doubts, she hoped to get the answer from Ash.

"Yes, but not quite."

Ash nodded, shook his head again, and explained:

"Although the basis for classification is indeed based on appearance factors, the most important thing is because of reproductive isolation. Only creatures that can reproduce with humans or wizards will be classified as humanoid."

Professor McGonagall thought thoughtfully: "So you classify house elves and hags as 'beasts' because they cannot reproduce with wizards or humans to produce offspring?"

In fact, Ash is not the first person to try to assign factions to magical creatures.

In the classification of creatures by the Ministry of Magic, magical creatures are usually divided into three categories: humans, beasts, and spirits.

But for centuries, the wizarding community has debated the definition of what it means to be human.

In the 14th century, Lord Burdock Muldoon, the Speaker of the Wizarding Council, attempted to define a 'person' as any member of the wizarding world who walked on two legs, and attempted to invite all 'people' to a summit to discuss new magical laws. , and then he found that his definition was not feasible.

The meeting quickly descended into chaos as the goblins brought every two-legged creature they could find, including orbs, augurs, fowls, pixies, fairies, and trolls. The club smashed the hall to pieces.

Obviously, no one wants to admit that they are the same kind as brainless creatures like trolls, and the ghosts are also dissatisfied with this. They think that they are dead, so how can they still be considered 'human'?

It was not until 1811 that the magical society reached an agreement to redefine "human" and "beast" based on "high intelligence".

Muggles, wizards, goblins, vampires, hags, giants, house elves, Veela and werewolves in human form are all classified as "humans". Most other magical creatures are "beasts", and only ghosts are classified separately. For 'spirit'.

Mermaids and centaurs also belong to this class, but because they are unwilling to share an identity with hags and vampires, they refuse to accept it and actively ask to be classified as 'beasts'.

However, if according to the definition of 'high intelligence', Acromantula, Sphinx and Gryphon can all be classified as 'human'. So the Ministry of Magic removed them from the 'human' camp and classified them as 'beasts' on the grounds that 'they could not overcome their ferocious nature'.

There is no doubt that this classification standard is not scientific.

But this is the standard of division in the magical world. If you laugh at them for not knowing science, they will laugh at you for not knowing magic.

There are even some extremists in the wizarding world who demand that 'Muggles' be classified as 'beasts' because they think it is a shame to be 'human' with 'Muggles' - no doubt, these extremists are those pure-blood supremacy By.

Compared with the previous classification rules of the Ministry of Magic, Ash's classification is obviously more scientific - in modern society, when Muggles classify species, they also proceed from a scientific perspective and use reproductive isolation as one of the basis for judgment.

However, the problem also lies here.

Although Ash's classification is very 'scientific', the most unacceptable thing in the wizarding world is Muggle science!

What is science? Is there any magic that works?

What's more, although Ash's divisions look generally the same as before, they are completely different in nature.

The Ministry of Magic's previous divisions were based solely on 'magic'.

Therefore, if we want to divide the status of all ‘people’, it should be:

Wizard \u003e Veela \u003e Vampire \u003e Goblin \u003e Giant \u003e Werewolf \u003e House Elf \u003e Muggle.

Muggles who don't know magic have a lower status in the eyes of many wizards than house elves!

This is why some extremists demand that 'Muggles' be classified as 'beasts', because in their view, the status of 'Muggles' is even inferior to that of 'beasts' - other magical creatures can also provide magic materials for wizards,' What do Muggles' have to offer?

Ash's classification of magical creatures is based on 'human beings'. And this ‘person’ does not refer to ‘wizards’, but to ‘Muggles’ who are looked down upon by most wizards. So even 'wizards' are only classified as 'humanoid', not 'human'!

Doesn’t this mean that ‘Muggles’ are more noble than ‘wizards’?

When other wizards see this, their first reaction is definitely to be furious:

heresy! Die to me!

In Ash's paper, the statement of high EQ is shocking, while the statement of low EQ is 'don't be afraid of your life, don't spill blood on me! ’.

If this were the Middle Ages, this paper would be enough to send Ash to the stake.

And even if they can't go to the stake, some extreme wizards don't mind giving Ash a few rockets - the green ones.

Of course Ash knew this, but he dared to bring it out because he knew Professor McGonagall's position better.

Professor McGonagall herself is a half-blood. She has admired her Muggle father since she was a child, and she once fell in love with another Muggle.

However, she knew that once she married a Muggle, she would have to abide by the Statute of Secrecy, give up her identity as a witch, and never use magic again. But she couldn't give up her ambition in the wizarding world, so she had no choice but to break up with the Muggle.

Therefore, Professor McGonagall is not a common anti-Muggle faction in the wizarding world, but a staunch pro-Muggle faction.

That's why when she saw Ash's paper, she expressed her heartfelt approval. Even if I see the content that uses Muggles as the basis to classify wizards as 'humanoid', although I find it shocking, I won't be particularly opposed to it.

Such an attitude is naturally expected, after all, Ashburn wrote this paper just to suit his interests—at least the first half of it.

When Professor McGonagall saw the second half of the paper, her expression that was originally filled with relief immediately turned serious. Compared with the first half, which is just an unconventional way of classifying magical creatures, the second half directly points to the essence of magical creatures-magic!