Muggle-borns

[Bruce Alan Wilson]

No: HPFGUIDX 168109

My opinion has been that being a wizard is not controlled by a single gene, but
by a set of genes.  One  grants the ability to sense magical energies; another
grants the ability to manipulate them; some others, in conjunction with the
first two, grant specialized wizardling abilities, such as animagism or
seerage--things that not all wizardlings can do.

People who have the ability to sense magical energy, but not manipulate them,
when born in wizardling families are called 'squibs.'  When they are born in
muggle families, they are what we call 'mediums', 'psychics', 'clairvoyants',
and the like.  'Squibs' could also be in wizardling families people who could
manipulate magical energies but cannot sense them; muggle families who produce
children with those abilities are the 'lucky' ones--people who narrowly avoid
lethal accidents, or who have things turn out well in unlikely circumstances.
People who have the third group of genes but neither of the first two are just
carriers.

Many Squibs, I am sure, leave the wizardling world and marry Muggles.  If one
were to search the genealogy of most Muggleborns, one could doubtless find a
Squib ancestor if one looked hard enough.  Remember how Slughorn wondered if
Hermione were descended from the famous potioneer with the same surname and she
said that she didn't know?  If that potioneer had a Squib son, he could easily
have been her great-great-grandfather.  We don't know Mrs. Granger's maiden
name, but if it had been the same as any of the wizards/witches we have met (not
a major character, or Hermione would have remarked on it and investigated the
matter), we could be fairly sure that there was wizardling blood on both sides.

I've also said that it would be a wonderful kick in the pants if Vernon were the
person who 'did magic late in life''; to find that he, himself had wizardling
blood. . . well, lets just say that he'd be examining the genealogies of any of
Dudley's girlfriends very, very carefully.

Bruce Alan Wilson

"The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man.  Other forms of
transport grow daily more nightmarish.  Only the bicycle remains pure in
heart."--Iris Murdoch



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