Hermione sat on a chair in the corner and considered her reply a moment. "It wasn't always awful, but I wouldn't ever call it nice. I never enjoyed it. As soon as Voldemort took over he gave all the families a simple choice - align with him or die. The Purebloods went right to the top. Positions of power and authority, no matter how mediocre they were. Half-bloods and Muggleborns were put on lists and assigned to work based on usefulness. We were promised it would make us free, and earn higher status. Especially if we married into Pureblood lines. We were given menial tasks, forced labour, the grunt work for the New Order. A monthly "Marital Bedding' was written into every marriage contract to keep it valid, as well as required "breeding'. People were safe as long as they were useful ... and when that usefulness passed, people just disappeared.