Magical Ability Sliding Scale (WAS Filch, Squibs, and Kwikspell )

[cynthiaanncoe at home.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 27496

David wrote:
> 
> I think there is an issue here.  It seems abundantly clear most of 
the time that either you are a wizard, or you are not.  If you are, 
then McGonagall's quill puts your name down for Hogwarts, else it 
doesn't.  (I assume this is confidential until age 11 is reached, 
else Neville's relatives needn't have worried.)  You can see 
Dementors and Boggarts (which are *not* in FB, Luke - interesting 
question why - see message 20607) the Knight Bus etc. and you have 
the opportunity to fail your OWLs or even get expelled.
> 
> It's hard to see what is meant by a Squib except someone who isn't 
a wizard.
> 

<snip>
> 
> OTOH Filch is able to use Mrs Skowers' all-purpose magical mess 
remover and has his connection to Mrs Norris.  What do Hermione's 
parents see, or fail to see, in Diagon Alley?  Could Muggles use Mrs 
Skowers'?
> 
> So either the Kwikspell course is designed for incompetent wizards 
(as previously discussed, there is little evidence that Neville is a 
bad wizard - he just didn't show his magic for a long time.), or any 
Muggle can use it.  Their advertising is clearly aimed at the former.
> 
> I think the likely way out is to assume some form of deceit is 
involved.  Either Filch deceives himself, or Kwikspell are misleading 
him.
> 

I wonder if there is a sliding scale for magical ability.  I was 
thinking that a squib is a wizard, but is a failed wizard.  (Isn't 
Filch described somewhere as a "failed wizard"?  I can't find the 
reference.)  This is different from Hagrid, who is an expelled and 
untrained wizard, or Neville, who is currently an ineffective 
wizard.  A squib is one step ahead of a Muggle, because the squib has 
a tiny amount of magical ability, just not enough to do much magic.

I suppose that when a wizard is born, his or her name goes into 
MacGonagall's book.  Muggles (who have no magical ability at all) do 
not go into the book.  Then, as the child matures, he or she might 
turn out to be a squib or weak wizard.  In Neville's case, I suppose 
a proud magical family could elect not to send him to Hogwarts if he 
hasn't displayed sufficient magical ability.   

As for the Kwik-spell course and the magical scouring powder, Filch 
probably can use these because of his tiny amount of magical 
ability.  He can probably see boggarts and dementors (it would be 
hard to be caretaker if he can't even observe things students can 
observe), and we know he can see Peeves.  I would think he could also 
ride the Knight Bus, but he might not be able to hail hail it. 

Can Muggles use the Kwik-spell course?  I'd say no, because all it 
claims to do is enhance your natural magical ability, and Muggles 
don't appear to have any.

Now, does anyone have a feel for what JKR means by "hag" 
and "warlock"?

Cindy (who, under this theory, could be considered a failed opera 
singer)