The Characters of Arabella and Mundungus (WAS: Dumbledore's useful spies)

[erisedstraeh2002]

No: HPFGUIDX 55968

I wrote (in response to Barb's observation regarding Mrs. Figg being 
an unpleasant person):

> So while she's obviously not the most enjoyable companion an 11 
> year old boy might want and is obviously very peculiar, I don't 
> think of her as an unpleasant person.

to which Barb responded:

> Harry, not feel sorry for someone breaking their leg, other than a 
> Dursley or a Malfoy? Given what we know of Harry, that seems to be 
> the most telling clue to whether she is a pleasant person.

now me again:

An excellent point - I had not thought of that.  I was seeing the 
descriptors in canon pointing to Harry's stays at Mrs. Figg's house 
as being unpleasant, rather that Mrs. Figg herself being an 
unpleasant person.  But given Harry's sensitivity, it is quite 
telling that he wouldn't be sympathetic about Mrs. Figg breaking her 
leg.

I did also want to mention that I completely agree with Barb's 
original point, which was that Dumbledore has collected quite a 
motley crew with which to fight Voldemort.  Let's review:  a werewolf 
(Lupin), a convicted murderer (Sirius), two half-giants (Hagrid and 
Madame Maxime), a cruel bully (Snape), a "mad old lady" (Arabella 
Figg) and a swindling practical joker (Mundungus Fletcher).  But he 
does have the Weasleys and, of course, our hero Harry.  And Voldemort 
has his share of motley-ness - take the senior Crabbe and Goyle, for 
instance.  I just can't wait to see how JKR pulls this all together!

~Phyllis