Squibs & Muggles (Was Re: Mrs. Figg as babysitter)

[aprilgc at ivillage.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 15345

> Christian Stubø wrote:

> I suspect most, or at least some, squibs would still be living in the 
> magical world - they'd been brought up there, and letting them out 
> into the muggle world would be troublesome for them, to say the 
> least.  Theya re also a certain risk when it comes to letting 
> knowledge of the magical world slip out to the muggles.  Available 
> jobs would include selling tickets at the Knight-bus and other tasks 
> that do not require magical knowledge.
<snip>

I don't know about that one.  Where, for example, do the Finnegans live 
(Magic or Muggle community)?  Dad Finnegan is a Muggle (PS/SS - can't 
find the reference), but Seamus has had magical experiences.  He claims 
in chapter 9 to have spent a good deal of childhood "zooming around the 
countryside on his broomstick".  That may be an exaggeration, but he 
had no need to lie about being able to fly.  He also played wizard 
games (the chess set Harry plays with in chapter 12 - before Christmas 
- belongs to Seamus).
It would seem to me that Squibs might benefit from nonmagical solutions 
- and why reinvent the wheel when Muggles have already done it for you?  
I also believe that it would be easier for Squibs to live in Muggle 
communities than for witches.  Mom Finnegan must have lived in a Muggle 
community for at least long enough to "get" Dad so I'm figuring magical 
folks live in and interact with the Muggle world as they see fit (as 
long as it doesn't break some statute).  
I also don't agree that Squibs would be a security risk -- at least not 
more of one that Muggle-born witches and wizards.  Their parents and 
siblings know about magic - and I don't suppose the authorities would 
forbid the Muggle borns who chose to to return home (marry the girl/boy 
next door that s/he used to beat up) once they've completed their 
training.
I hope I've made sense.
a.