OoP SPOILER: Number of New Characters

[Cindy C.]

No: HPFGUIDX 59685

The original list . . . 

> > Arabella Figg
> > Mundungus Fletcher
> > Mrs. Longbottom
> > Mrs. Longbottom
> > Dedalus Diddle
> > Mr. Lestrange
> > Real Moody

Then Lynn observed:

> First, there are some posts focusing on just GoF
> but from this post it suggests that he was
> speaking about all 4 books so all characters
> covered in the first four are included.  This
> would make sense since characters from other
> books are supposed to return for this one.


That's my reading of this as well.  In the first 4 books combined, 
there are a total of 125 characters that required voices.  Dumbledore 
counts as one, not four.  So if Lupin turns up in OoP, then he isn't 
one of our nine new characters.

Lady Lindi nailed me on Dedalus Diggle by pointing out that he had 
the one line in PS/SS.  Curses!

But we can replace Mrs. Diggle with Fridwulfa, thanks to Morgan D.

So then the list becomes:

Arabella Figg
Mundungus Fletcher
Mrs. Longbottom
Mrs. Longbottom
Dedalus Diddle
Mr. Lestrange
Real Moody
Fridwulfa

So that means JKR will introduce only one new character in OoP!

Man, we're good, huh?  ;-)

Cindy -- betting this single new character will be female and will 
have something to do with Voldemort's first reign of terror