Arabella Figg and cabbage

[camdenandmo <camdenandmo@earthlink.net>]

No: HPFGUIDX 49824

Regarding the cabbage.  I am one who always reads for symbolism, hidden 
clues, etc., but I can easily disregard repetition of cabbage.  
1) Why use polyjuice potion to live in the muggle world and baby-sit 
occasionally? I am sure she does more than this (watches him often, cast 
protection spells, and so forth), but the polyjuice doesn't seem necessary.  
However, I am interested to learn the age of Mundungus Fletcher.  If he is the 
age of Sirus and Lupin, then Mrs. Figg may be their age as well, to be "the old 
crowd".  But she could just as likely be the grandmotherly figure to 
Dumbledore's grandfatherly one.
2) Cabbage has a strong connotation.  When you read smelled or tasted like 
cabbage you can easily bring forth the strong smell or taste associated with it.  
Chocolate is often used, and there is no debate regarding that.  Chocolate 
brings forth many feelings, taste, smells, as well.  They are generally the same 
with most people, I would guess.  Chocolate is often comforting, how often do 
we read or see about some eating a great deal of chocolate because they are 
depressed?  So isn't it possible that cabbage is used in all the situations to 
emphasis the strong smell or taste of the discussed place or potion.

As for the Sirus/Mrs. Figg connection, I find this theory very interesting and 
plausible.  It makes me wonder about a few things.

1) Sirus visiting Mrs. Figg as well as seeing Harry.  How did Sirus know where 
Harry was?  He has apparently been out of the loop only picking up on what 
he gathered from Azkaban discussions and read in "The Daily Prophet."  How 
hidden is Harry's summer location?  Voldermort obviously knows that Harry is 
greatly protected and he can't get to him at the Dursley's, but does he know 
Harry is at the Dursley's?  Was Harry's location and heavy protection 
discussed at Azkaban by DE when they arrived?  Lupin didn't believe that 
Sirus was innocent until he saw Peter on the map.  While Mrs. Figg may have 
been in "the old crowd", she would unlikely have been as close to Sirus as 
Lupin, one of his 3 best friends.  Therefore I find it unlikely she would have 
believed him, visited him at Azkaban, or told him where Harry was, but 
possible as I cannot figure any other way he would know.  

2) Sirus is asked to alert the old crowd.  Are we to assume that Figg and 
Fletcher know/believe in Sirus innocence now?  It is possible that Lupin or 
Dumbledore alerted them, but is it very likely.  How would they react to the 
Sirus Black they have believed him to be the last 13+ years?  While possible 
Lupin could have accompanied him, or even gone alone after alerted by 
Sirus, this is also flawed.  While I am sure Fletcher and Figg are of a similar 
mindset to DD and more excepting than most, wouldn't they have to be overly 
trusting to believe a werewolf and a "convicted" serial killer's story of the Dark 
Lord being resurrected by a dead wizard?  So do they know and believe Sirus 
to be innocent already, are they as accepting as DD and will believe his story 
easily, or will their be trouble when he arrives.

3) There has been much speculation on Figg being the new DADA teacher.  
We can assume she would be qualified, as she has been protecting Harry at 
the Dursley's all of these years against the Dark Arts.  We could also assume 
that this defense has been good enough to either stop attempts by Voldermort 
or some Death Eaters or stop them from even trying.  There is also 
speculation that their are more wizards in the Privet Drive area working with 
Figg.  Could these be Fletcher and Lupin?  What would have convinced DD 
that Lupin would have been a good DADA teacher.  We have no evidence 
from any of the stories of his past to support a great knowledge of DA.  
Perhaps it was his protection of Harry that convinced DD of his expertise.  It 
makes sense that they would be near each other for him to alert them and 
stay with Lupin, which also puts him watching over Harry at the Dursley's.  DD 
made it easier for Sirus to watch Harry in GOF,  the cave, the pumpkin patch, 
even though Harry is especially protected at Hogwarts he is allowed to watch 
over him, why not at the Dursley's as well?  

Stacie