Mrs. Figg as babysitter

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 15221

catherine at c... wrote:

> > Also forgot to mention - did someone think that "Mrs Figg" could 
be
> > Harry's secret keeper?  It could be one of the protections that
> > Dumbledore has on Privet Drive.  And why is she so unpleasant to
> > Harry?

Margaret wrote:

> 
> I doubt she means to be.  Put yourself in her place; what do you
> talk about to this boy when you're under STRICT ORDERS not to
> breathe a WORD about his parents, his magic, the wizarding world
> in general, your own history as a witch . . .
> 
> About all that's left to do is haul out the pictures of your
> cats!

My thought wasn't that she was unpleasant, exactly (yeah, he thinks 
she's a "mad old lady," but I think that's just her reputation in the 
neighborhood, due to a few odd things that must have leaked out in 10 
years of masquerading as a Muggle), but just that she is not a fun 
babysitter.  She could play games, give him treats, let him watch cool 
movies, etc.--all the things that make kids look forward to being sent 
to certain sitters, especially kids who would rather be just about 
anywhere than home anyway.  Assuming that she is guarding Harry, too 
bad Dumbledore didn't find someone for the job who was also a fun, 
nurturing kind of person.  (She did give it a try with the 
several-years-old chocolate cake.  <g>)

Amy Z

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 "Damn it, all this eye-twinkling is making my pupils itch."
              --Dumbledore, "The Magical Mystika Tour," Rave

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