Squib

**Squib** is a name given to person born into a wizarding family but has no magical powers. They are very rare and unusual. They are not generally accepted in the wizarding world, especially by pure-bloods and half-bloods who support blood purity. The concept is introduced in *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*.

Squibs usually choose to live and work in the Muggle world because not having magic means they are not very useful to the wizarding world where they are shunned. Another term for them is a "wizard-born Muggle". Every Muggle-born is descended from a Squib.

## About

They are born to at least one wizarding parent but they never show magical talent of their own. They do not inherit the magic gene because it is dormant. Any child that inherits the magic gene will have proved they have magical talent by the time they are seven years old. It is not known why or how the magic gene goes dormant but it is exceptionally rare.

It is impossible for them to learn magic or awaken the gene and because of that, many immerse themselves into the Muggle world. They cannot see Dementors but only feel the effect of them. They are the opposite of Muggle-born wizards. The very few roles a Squib can have in the wizarding world are ones where magic is not necessary. It is known to include the role of caretaker at Hogwarts. Argus Filch attempted to learn magic using a Kwikspell course to no success. Arabella Figg proved useful by working for the Order of the Phoenix to keep an eye on Harry Potter.

The wizarding society does not normally care for Squibs. They do not record their existence at the Ministry of Magic but they do mention it in a record of their wizarding parent(s). Certain wizarding families do not want a Squib family member and will disown them and take them off their family tree. Even in a tolerant family, they are disappointed to learn their child isn't a witch or wizard. Squibs tend to be bitter about not being part of the wizarding world and they will integrate into the Muggle world.

## Known Squibs

* Argus Filch
* Arabella Figg
* Marius Black
* Dolores Umbridge's brother

## Trivia

* It is probable that any spell that stops Muggles from seeing things also apply to them. However, Filch is able to see Hogwarts even though it is a ruin to Muggles. However, when the Muggle-born Myrtle Warren was killed, her Muggle parents visited the school. It is possible that the wizarding world can amend a spell to let individuals see their world in certain situations.
* In early drafts of the *Harry Potter book series*, J.K. Rowling intended for the Weasley family to have a distant cousin who is a Squib. In *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 6, Harry Potter is told about a distant cousin who is an accountant in the Muggle world that they do not speak to. He never reappears in the story.
	+ Rowling further intended for the Squib cousin to have a child who turns out to be a witch, and she was going to appear in later books when she started attending Hogwarts in Slytherin house. Her role was to convey information she heard other Slytherin students talking about. Rowling realised her character is unnecessary when she decided it is easier for Rita Skeeter to take her planned role instead because she can discover much more than a child.

## Notes and sources

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*, Chapter 9
2. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*, Chapter 2
3. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*, Chapter 13
4. ↑ Archived information from J.K. Rowling's old website