Squib Life

[sbursztynski]

No: HPFGUIDX 178126

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "slytherin_jenn" <slytherin_jenn at ...> wrote:
>
> Prep0strus:
> > I've wondered for a bit about the place of Squibs in the WW.  It
> > really is the ultimate damnation to be born a Squib... but isn't there
> > more that they could do?
> > 
> > From what we've seen, career options seem to be janitor in place most
> > likely to remind you of your ultimate genetic failing, and spy on The
> > Boy Who Lived, which is a pretty limited field, I'd imagine.
> > 
> > But couldn't they do more?  It's hard to be a part of the Muggle world
> > knowing what else is out there
> 
> Celoneth:
> I've wondered about this too. I believe in one interview JKR gave, she
> said that Mrs. Figg supported herself by breeding Kneazles &
> half-Kneazles - so that type of work is probably out there. Potions
> seems to require some magic, and divination for humans appears to be a
> skill that one is born with, and Astronomy seems to be taught in
> relation to other magical subjects so I wouldn't see them having
> careers in those areas. Filch seems to be a rare exception (it would
> be very interesting to learn why he continues to stay at Hogwarts
> given how frustrating it must be to be outdone by schoolkids) I
> imagine there are few squibs that actively participate in wizard life
> - its probably like Muggle-Magic marriages where the Muggle probably
> still does their Muggle job but still is part of the magic family. I
> think its stated that squibs don't go to Hogwarts, so probably they
> attend Muggle schools and become mostly integrated into Muggle
> society. That's probably the best thing, we seen in DH how hard it is
> for Wizards to survive w/o wands in that society, it must be much
> worse for squibs who don't have any magical potential. 
> 
> I wonder also if squibs are the reason(or a primary reason) for
> muggleborns existing. Its stated that both squibs and muggleborns are
> rare, and if magic is genetic then a squib somewhere along the line
> may lead to a descendant being magic. 
> Celoneth

Sue here:

I think it was in Philosopher's Stone that Ron admits there's a family member who's an 
accountant - they don't talk about him. He is, presumably, the squib in the Weasley family 
and has nothing to do with them either. You couldn't get a magical job, but you could, it 
seems, become an accountant or whatever, and get on with your life. Or you could be a 
sad character like Filch and hang around the edges of a world in which you can never take 
part, trying to pretend you're a part of it. No wonder he's so bitter towards the students, 
who make more magic even in their games than he could ever do.

Notice, though, that the two squibs in the series - Filch and Figg - both have magical 
relationships with cats. Maybe that's a squib thing, like a compensation for their lack of 
magic in other respects.

It could be that squibs are the ancestors of Muggleborns. Or perhaps during the 
persecutions of the Middle Ages, witches and wizards went into hiding and married out?