A Mrs. Figg Sighting?

[Cindy C.]

No: HPFGUIDX 45329

Jaye wrote:

>JKR doesn't name her because Harry hasn't been introduced to her 
>yet. . . . I believe that Harry would have at least
> commented on the fact that his old muggle babysitter
> is dressed as a witch and holding a wand at a wizard
> game campout.  

and Rosie agreed:

>But wouldn't Harry have recognised her? He should know what she 
>looks like fairly well. And also, do you think that she would have 
>let him find out she was a witch like that? I think she should 
>break it gently! 

I guess it depends on what you believe about Mrs. Figg.  We know she 
is part of the old crowd, and I think we know she'll appear in OoP.

Personally, I've never thought JKR is going to bring this elderly, 
frail, brittle-boned daft lady into Dumbledore's inner circle in 
OoP.  I think all of that is part of Mrs. Figg's disguise -- a 
disguise that I always figured involved some aging potion.  The 
reason Harry doesn't recognize her, then, is because she isn't in 
her elderly neighbor disguise.  In fact, if she is part of Harry's 
protection (or maybe even the source of it), then it makes sense she 
would have stayed close to Harry that night.

Otherwise, I sure can't figure out why this *one* female character 
is given two lines -- lines that could easily have been spoken by 
Arthur Weasley.

On the question of why she remains unnamed, JKR could have named her 
quite easily.  Had one of the other characters addressed her by name 
("I guess you're right, Arabella"), then Harry would know her and so 
would the reader.  I think JKR chose not to name her.

Methinks it's a set-up.  Especially given how many times JKR said 
she had to re-work that particular chapter.

Cindy -- prepared to wager that the witch is going to be important