Part 1: The Institutionalization of a Socio-Economic Class System
Through-out the world of Harry Potter we are exposed to different levels of Wizarding society. Some of the levels are mentioned in passing, some have real roles in the stories, but all of them share one thing in common: their oppression at the hands of the Wizarding Elite.
It is noted in the 1st book that Hagrid (a half-giant) is also not allowed to do magic, He was expelled, under dubious circumstances, from what amounted to wizarding high school. Normally these actions are repealed, so the student does not suffer from reduced economic prospects in the future. However, as a retaliation for his transgressions the Ministry of Magic took away his primary means of economic sustainability, namely, his ability to work magic of any scale. This effectively reduced him to jobs requiring no real magical ability, and it is reflected in his lifelong career as a janitor, and lifelong poverty. His one offense brought him a lifetime of poverty and remorse - this sort of overbearing punishment SURELY is not the hallmark of a benevolent government.
Even after Hagrid's innocence in the matter of the Chamber of Secrets was proven, his ban from working magic was still upheld. His wand remained broken, and no consideration was given to the time he spent under punishment. Not only does this indicate a governing body that grossly over punishes it's constituents, but then goes on to be oblivious to the point of seeming absentee - until it's time to fuck someone else's life up.
Even more chilling than the Ministries handling of disciplinary action in a private school, is the schools largely tacit acceptance of the verdict. Even Hagrid's closest friends show little, if any remorse for his situation in life. His plight usually goes unnoticed, while he is continually asked to perform dangerous and odious tasks for the ruling elite. Even his expertise outside of magic working are largely ignored until Hogwarts is pressed to find another teacher on short notice. As an after thought, even though he had demonstrated his abilities previously, his status as both a half-giant and a non-magic worker relegated him to the position of "last choice".
Another employee of Hogwarts, who was born to magicing parents, but without the ability himself, Mr. Filch, occupies a similar status in life. However, while Hagrid's predicament ultimately stemmed from what (it is assumed) was a fair punishment, Filch's condition was entirely hereditary - the equivalent of a physical handi-cap in today's world. In stead of being allowed to enjoy a life filled with the benefits of magic, he too is pushed to the margins of society, as another janitor in the wizarding world. Another person, handicapped through no fault of his own, condemned to destitution through a cultural and legal system that creates opportunity for the gifted and seeks only to find minimal use for those that do not make the cut.
Similar to Mr. Filch, is Harry Potter's longtime neighbor, Mrs. Figg. Mrs. Figg, perhaps, is among the most tragic of non-magic using characters who belong to the wizarding world. She has no employment, or real contact at all with the wizarding world. She is used as a living camera to monitor Harry's activity, but not because she was fit for the job, or because people believed in her abilities, but because it was convenient since she already lived next to him. This is a woman, marginalized by the society she was born into, outcasted because of her genetic disabilities, who is now being asked to perform an extremely dangerous job solely on the merit that her loyal to wizarding society would be all the repayment she needed. This smacks of indifference toward the "lower classes" and it speaks of a cultural prejudice that has become so common place that it is rarely questioned or thought of in Wizarding Society.
Mrs. Fig then is nearly attacked, suffers an official investigation and interrogation by the highest Wizarding Court that exists, and she recieves NO THANKS. There are no magical gifts bestowed upon her, she is not welcomed back into the selective fold of the wizarding world. She is asked to return to her home, in the mundane suburbs of the muggles, isolated from the wonders of a society that is her birthright - whether she can work magic or no.
