new female DADA teacher

[Laura]

No: HPFGUIDX 47496


> Sally says:
> These are my thoughts on the possibility of Mrs Figg being the next 
> DADA teacher.<snip>
> surely she would have to be highly skilled in DADA if she's to keep 
> HP safe from the most evil wizard in wizard-dom? 
> OTOH, it's possible that something along the lines of a Fidelius 
> Charm could have been put to use, in which case she wouldn't need 
any 
> special skill to keep him safe, just the ability to keep a secret. 

Laura says:
I would argue that, given the Potter's previous experience with the 
Fidelius Charm, more than this would be used as protection for 
Harry.  After all, he is held in quite high esteem by the wizarding 
world- I doubt Dumbledore would entrust his protection to the will 
power of one person, despite how trustworthy this person might be.  
This leads me to believe that Mrs. Figg does indeed have other 
powers.  I had not come to the conclusion of AF being the new DADA 
teacher on my own, but now that it's been mentioned, it does make 
sense. 


> Two points to note though, if she's a witch, why did she have to 
use 
> crutches after breaking her leg? Surely Madam Pomphrey isn't the 
only 
> witch with a bottle of Skelegrow in her bathroom cabinet?

Laura says:
Perhaps as way of trying to fit in to the Muggle World.  Anyone who 
knew that her lag had been broken would be suspicious if it healed 
suddenly.

> And secondly, if she does take up the post, what's going to happen 
to 
> Tibbles, Snowy Mr Paws and Tufty (et al)? Will they all be taking 
up 
> residence at Hogwarts? 
> Unless.... 
> It's the cats who are the protectors of Harry????
> Now there's a thought. Its not AF who's guarding Harry, its her 
cats. 
> Could they be Animagi? 

Laura says:
A lot has been said about the role of cats in HP: notably Mrs Figg's 
cats, Crookshanks, Prof. McGonagall being able to transform into a 
cat.

Of course, what this could mean in terms of plot (if it means 
anything) is purley speculation.  Perhaps a connection to eyes?  JKR 
has hinted that there may be some substance to the theories about 
Harry and Lily's eyes (BBC, FALL 2000, 
http://www.geocities.com/aberforths_goat/Fall_2000_BBC_Newsround.htm) 
and cats have rather peircing eyes as well, and the ability to see in 
the dark.  That's as far as my connection goes, though.

Just a thought: Mrs Figg has her many cats, Aunt Marge has her many 
dogs.  Not necessarily very important, but does anyone else see a 
dramatic foil?

-Laura
P.S. fairly off topic, but I think Arabella is an awesome name.  JKR 
gives her characters great names.