Mrs. Figg - witch, squib, portal guardian, kneazle keeper, none of the above?

[meboriqua at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 16765

  I don't think Mrs Figg is a likely candidate for discovering magic
> later in life.  I think that could be Petunia.  JKR has said 
something alongthe lines of some surprising change of storyline in 
relation to the Dursleysand, IMO, Petunia is more likely to have a 
dormant magical ability thanDudley, because Dudley is too young to be 
regarded as being late in lifewithin the framework of this book 
series.>

I'm inclined to agree with you here, Neil!  I also read (I think it 
was the AOL interview?) that Harry has not *yet* practiced magic on 
Dudley, with a *hint hint* on the part of JKR.  I feel that Harry will 
somehow use magic against Dudley as a revenge for all he's put up with 
from the Pig in a Wig.  If Dudley were able to do magic too, it 
wouldn't be one sided, as JKR hinted.

I also think Aunt Petunia is most likely to be able to do magic.  In 
fact, I think she may already be a witch, but had to hide it to 
protect Harry, or because she was ashamed to not be 'normal' anymore.  
She does already have magic in the family...
 
> When it comes to Mrs Figg, if she is a squib, as JKR apparently 
confirmed, I see her as the guardian of a portal to the wizarding 
world, acting as a sort of liaison officer with the Muggle world.  It 
must be difficult for squibs to fit in in the wizarding world, so the 
ideal role for them would be in some kind of limbo area between the 
two worlds.  Perhaps Mrs Figg's house is a bit like the Leaky Cauldron 
and offers a route - an escape route - into the wizarding world?  It 
would be a good place of protection for Harry if the Dursleys had to 
leave him anywhere.  It's interesting that when they couldn't leave 
him with Mrs Figg, they felt obliged to take him with them to
> the zoo.  It's almost as if they were physically unable to leave him 
behind if he couldn't stay with her...>

I like that theory!  That makes sense to me if Mrs. Figg really is a 
squib.  I'd still like to hear JKR say those words myself, as I see 
more possibilites of Mrs. Figg being a witch, especially if she is 
part of the old crowd.

BTW, Mundungus Fletcher was also mentioned as part of the old crowd.  
I'm very interested to meet the person who tried to get one over on 
the MOM after the World Cup.  I know he was mentioned earlier, but 
can't remember where.  I'll go look!

This is one hell of an old crowd,