Mrs Figg the Squib? (was Mrs. Figg as babysitter)

[fgcjnk at btinternet.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 15380

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Bugg" <bugganeer at y...> wrote:
Thanks for all your thoughts on why Mrs Figg is a witch.  I think we 
just don't know enough yet to make a firmish judgement here.  

I guess I've always asumed she is a squib because I can't imagine 
Dumbledore asking a witch to 'live as a muggle' for so long, and if 
her job is just to feed the cats and send an occasional owl to 
Dumbledore then a squib could easily do it.

I agree she may or may not have actually broken her leg, but if she 
did and someone saw her, she could still get it fixed magically - 
explain that the hospital/x-rays had said it wasn't broken - feign a 
limp for a few days and most people would just assume she'd been lucky 
(muggles don't notice nuffink).

I don't think being part of the 'old gang' means she MUST be a witch. 
In the fight against V. a squib could easily have a useful role and 
perhaps draw less attention to themselves. As there's no useful 
defence against AK magical ability isn't all that important here.

> Two questions: 
> 1) What about Mrs. Figg teaching DADA? If Dumbledore trusted her 
> there she must be good. 

I like this idea - Now I agree that she would probably need to be a 
witch for this or it would be a really interesting and radical 
appointment (but then they are short of qualified candidates!!).  
Squib or witch I think she'd make an excellent DADA teacher, but I'd 
be sad to see the back of her after a year.

> 2) What about marrying a muggle even though you may double thier 
> lifespan? I don't know if I would like it.

I suspect Mrs Figgs maiden name was Perkins and that she's the sister 
of the old warlock (just retired) that Mr Weasley got the tent from.  
She strikes me as being even older than the senior Weasleys.  If Mrs 
Figg IS a squib, then I suspect she married a muggle and outlived him 
(Do squibs have the same lifespan as witches or muggles?).  Else Mr 
Figg could have died in the fight against Voldemort, but no evidence 
here.

Anyway you've all given me lots to think about - thanks,

Florence