Harry's Fairy Godmother and the ancient magic protecting him

[alhewison]

No: HPFGUIDX 41538

Whilst it has not been conclusively confirmed that Harry's babysitter 
is the Arabella Figg of the "Old Crowd". I believe that she is. I 
have read other theories that Mrs Figg might be Arabella's mother. 
Although this is possible – JKR's "Well Spotted" confirmation of the 
link is not conclusive, I find it unlikely. The shock value for Harry 
of his babysitter being one of the old crowd, specifically overseeing 
him will be strong, and needs no further family complications.

Mrs Figg's role in Harry's early life is intriguing. I believe her to 
be part of the layers protecting Harry. I like the theory that she is 
Harry's actual Godmother –perhaps Lily's best friend to mirror 
Sirius' relationship with James. I suspect that she is a contemporary 
of Lily's, taking an ageing potion (the cabbage-like smell in her 
house certainly seems to be some kind of foreshadowing). But she 
hardly conforms to the role of "Fairy Godmother". Quite the opposite. 
Harry hates going to her house. He is relieved that he can't go to 
her after she breaks her leg, before knowing where he will go. This 
suggests to me that he prefers being with even the Dursleys to Mrs 
Figg. Rather than giving him treats and the love or even comfort that 
he lacks at home, she bores him with pictures of cats*. When he 
thinks that she "wasn't as bad as usual" she allows him to watch TV 
and gives him ancient cake. Hardly pampering.

IMO If Mrs Figg is there to protect Harry, then she must report back 
to Dumbledore on Harry. This together with any other information he 
might have, would point strongly to Dumbledore knowing how Harry is 
treated. I would therefore suggest that Mrs Figg's strange behaviour 
almost points to that treatment being endorsed. The Dursleys do seem 
cowardly enough to react to WW threats. Think how quickly they moved 
Harry from his cupboard when they thought that they were being 
watched. So why didn't Dumbledore step in?

The theories regarding the Dursleys importance to Harry lying in 
their connection as his closest living relatives are interesting, but 
have a flaw. If we are to believe that Harry only survived 
Voldemort's attack because of his mother's sacrifice, then I see a 
problem. There can be no closer relationship between a baby than with 
his mother. But this relationship in itself was insufficient to save 
Harry; it needed his mother's sacrifice as well. So how can the 
lesser relationship of Aunt/Nephew provide Harry with adequate 
protection? I can see it working if the protection kicks in by the 
relatives not caring; if they are cruel and sadistic. IMO the 
Dursleys must be uncaring  - and Harry miserable in their company – 
for the protection to remain intact.

Perhaps Arabella Figg must also seem uncaring for the protection to 
work.   If she did care then it must have been hard to have an 
abused, almost malnourished child whom she could not reach out to. I 
imagine that she could relax slightly the day before she knew Harry 
was due to receive his letter – hence allowing him to watch TV. I 
also agree that there must be some significance in the chocolate 
cake, although I personally don't see it as an anti-Dementor devise 
at that point in the story. Perhaps it contains a charm to protect 
Harry as he sets foot back into the WW. 

*The cats will almost certainly be significant. I do like the idea of 
Crookshanks being the cat responsible for Mrs Figg's broken leg and 
then being sent to Diagon Alley to await Hermione to continue Harry's 
protection, but that is probably getting a little bit too far-
fetched...

Ali

Who bought a packet of "Harry Potter" Sherbet Lemons today, but 
didn't think they were very authentic. They weren't yellow, they were 
individually wrapped so they didn't stick together. They were smooth 
and didn't cut the roof of your mouth like the sweets of my 
childhood. Time to find a good old fashioned sweet shop and have 
a "Quarter" measured out.