The Intriguing Tale of Squibs in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Highlights

In the initial chapter of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," it is unveiled that Mrs. Arabella Figg, a resident of Wisteria Walk who adores felines, possesses knowledge regarding Harry's extraordinary magical powers and had personally witnessed his battle against the ominous Dementors.

Chapter 2 elaborates that Squibs are individuals born to parents who possess magical abilities but do not display any signs of magic themselves. Due to their lack of magical talents, Squibs are commonly subjected to contempt and are a scarce presence within the Wizarding World. Notable Squibs, such as Mrs. Figg and Argus Filch, possess extensive knowledge of the Wizarding World despite their absence of magical skills. These characters play significant roles in the narrative of Harry Potter.

The first chapter of the fifth Harry Potter book, "The Order of the Phoenix," delves into the Dementor assault that takes place in Little Whinging. Entitled "Dudley Demented," this chapter delves into Harry's distressing summer vacation at the Dursley residence. Plagued by nightmares concerning Cedric Diggory, he resorts to lying in a flower bed outside the living room window of Four, Privet Drive to eavesdrop on television news. Most of his holiday is spent rummaging through streets, scavenging discarded newspapers. Additionally, the opening chapter mentions how Mrs. Arabella Figg, a cat-loving lady residing in the nearby Wisteria Walk, recently started inviting Harry for tea whenever they crossed paths.

On August 2, while in an alleyway between Magnolia Crescent and Wisteria Walk, Harry and his cousin Dudley come face to face with two Dementors. Acting swiftly, Harry summons his stag Patronus to ward off the Dementors. As the attack subsides, Dudley is found curled up on the ground, and as Harry bends down to check on him, he hears approaching footsteps. A sudden instinct prompts Harry to ready his wand, but upon seeing that it is Mrs. Figg, he quickly conceals it. To his astonishment, she already knows that he is a wizard and that he successfully battled the Dementors.

Arabella Figg Knew About The Dementors

In Chapter 2 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, titled "A Peck of Owls," Harry suspects that Mrs. Figg is a witch. He decides to ask her directly, and she confirms that she is actually a Squib. Mrs. Figg admits that she is unable to assist Harry in defending against Dementors and shares that Dumbledore requested her to keep an eye on him. As Dudley remains motionless, Mrs. Figg becomes increasingly anxious. Eventually, Harry lifts Dudley from the ground and drags him along, while Mrs. Figg leads the way. Mrs. Figg possesses knowledge about the Statute of Secrecy, and when she forgoes the topic of Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, Harry feels compelled to inquire, "Why didn't you inform me that you're a Squib?"

Although Chapter 2 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix does not extensively discuss Squibs, they are individuals born to parents within the Wizarding community. If a child fails to demonstrate any magical abilities by the age of seven, it is highly probable that they are a Squib. However, it is also plausible for them to be late-bloomers, individuals whose magical talents only manifest during their teenage years or adulthood. Much like Squibs, late-bloomers are a rare occurrence in the Wizarding World. In simpler terms, a Squib is a person who is born to at least one magical parent but lacks magical abilities themselves.

The Differences Between Squibs And Muggles

Magical individuals, particularly pure-bloods, commonly hold a contemptuous view towards Squibs. Nevertheless, exceptions do exist, as revealed in Chapter 6 of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, "The Journey from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters." Ronald Weasley acknowledges that his entire family consists of wizards, with the sole exception being Molly's second cousin, who works as an accountant. Interestingly, they never discuss him. Moreover, the belief persists that Muggle-born witches and wizards are the offspring of Squibs who have entered into marriages with Muggles. This implies that such unions can result in the birth of a wizard born to non-magical parents.

One of the major distinctions between Squibs and Muggles lies in the profound knowledge that the former possess regarding the Wizarding World. This is beautifully exemplified in The Order of the Phoenix through the character of Mrs. Figg. As a member of the Order of the Phoenix, Mrs. Figg showcases her cunning by concealing her true identity from Harry, strategically disclosing it at the most opportune moment. A pivotal scene in the book, "The Hearing" in Chapter 8, features Mrs. Figg as a witness in Harry Potter's disciplinary hearing on August twelfth. The purpose of the hearing is to investigate Harry's alleged breaches of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and the International Statue of Secrecy. When called upon, Mrs. Figg introduces herself as Arabella Doreen Figg, a resident who lives near Harry in Little Whinging.

Mrs. Figg's introduction prompts Amelia Bones, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, to note that there is no record of any other witch or wizard living in Little Whinging besides Harry. Mrs. Figg clarifies that she is a Squib. Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, asks her to provide her parentage details to his assistant and continue with her testimony. Mrs. Figg explains how she witnessed Dementors "running" down a specific alleyway and describes the changes in the atmosphere when they appeared. She recounts how the Dementors targeted the boys and Harry had to use a Patronus to protect them. Madam Bones finds Mrs. Figg's testimony convincing, while Fudge remains skeptical.

Another well-known Squib in the Harry Potter series is Argus Filch, the caretaker of Hogwarts. In the second book, "The Chamber of Secrets," Filch accuses Harry of killing his pet cat, Mrs. Norris, and expresses his belief that Harry knows he is a Squib. Despite Harry's lack of knowledge about Squibs, his friend Ronald Weasley later explains that they are born into magical families but lack magical abilities. Ronald also suggests that Filch's bitter nature may stem from being a Squib. Although both Arabella and Filch are Squibs, each character holds their own significance in the story.