In the fictional universe of Harry Potter, magic is depicted as a supernatural force that overrides the laws of nature. In humans, magical ability is inborn and is usually inherited. Most children of magical parents are magical themselves. These are called Half-Bloods/Purebloods and are common. Some children of "Muggle" (non-magical) parents also display magical abilities. These are called Muggleborns and these are uncommon. Children who are born to wizard parents but cannot perform magic are called Squibs although these are very rare. Known Squibs in Harry Potter are Mrs Figg and Argus Filch.
J. K. Rowling, the creator of Harry Potter, based many magical elements in her fictional universe on real-world mythology and folklore. She has described this derivation as "a way of giving texture to the world". The magic of Harry Potter was the subject of a 2017 British Library exhibition and an accompanying documentary. The exhibition, entitled Harry Potter: A History of Magic, was the first at the British Library to be based on a single series by a living author.
