Squib

A Squib is a non-magical person born to at least one magical parent (Pm). They are much rarer than Muggle-born witches and wizards (CS9).

A Squib is not a Muggle. Born to a wizarding family, a Squib has such a low level of magical power that he or she is essentially unable to do any magic at all. However, while a Squib cannot cast spells, he or she can apparently see magical beings such as poltergeists, though not dementors (JKR).

There were "Squib-Rights" marches in the late 1960s, when Eugenia Jenkins was Minister for Magic (Pm).

Known Squibs:

• Argus Filch (CS9)
• Arabella Figg (OP2)
• Dolores Umbridge's brother (Pm)
• Marius Black (BFT)
• Angus Buchanan, professional Rugby player, author of My Life as a Squib
  (Pm)
• The seven sons of Thaddeus Thurkell (FW)
• Martha Steward, who lived as a No-Maj (Pm)

The word "Squib" is often used as a prejudicial insult, denoting someone with a disappointing lack of magical power or beneath contempt.

• Wizard Thaddeus Thurkell (1632 – 1692) had seven sons who all turned out to be Squibs. He was so appalled by his non-magical children, he transfigured them into hedgehogs (FW).
• The Black Family had a long tradition of blasting the names of Squibs off their family tapestry (JKR, BFT).
• Scottish Rugby player Angus Buchanan was cast out of his home by his father after the Hogwarts Sorting Hat declared he was non-magical (Pm). He was the only Squib who ever reached the Sorting Ceremony.
• In a Pensieve memory, Marvolo Gaunt referred to his daughter Merope as "disgusting" and a "dirty little Squib" although she was simply a witch with low self-esteem (HBP10).
• Dolores Umbridge pretended her Squib brother did not exist (Pm).
• Neville Longbottom's family believed he was non-magical for many years, leading him to refer to himself as "almost a Squib" even though he was a Pureblood (CS11).
• Hagrid called Filch a "sneakin' Squib" even though he himself was often derided for being a Half-Giant (HBP19).
• Ron's Aunt Muriel assumed that Dumbledore's sister Ariana was a Squib because she was kept hidden away, when actually she was kept away from others because she had dangerous powers (DH8).
• Gellert Grindelwald (disguised as Auror Percival Graves) insulted Credence Barebone by saying he was not a real wizard but "smelled" like a Squib, which proved an almost fatal mistake (WFT). Credence had merely suppressed his magic until a powerful Obscurus formed inside him, which suddenly came roaring out in a burst of Dark energy as he attempted to kill Graves/Grindelwald.
• Harry's son Albus Potter sometimes had trouble with magic, leading Karl Jenkins to call him "Albus Potter, the Slytherin Squib" (CC1.4).