OOP: Mrs Figg

[jklb66]

No: HPFGUIDX 65729

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Varana wrote:
> In the end of GoF Dumbledore refers to Mrs.Arabella Figg as "one of 
> the old crowd"
> 
> And in OOP we learn the Mrs Figg is really a Squib.
> 
> But is it plausable that a squib who cannot do any magic took part 
in 
> the fight against Voldemort?
> 
> Which is why I wonder if Mrs Figg is the sister of Arabella, or 
> something in that order. I just can't see a squib being involved 
> enough to be called one of the old crowd.

In an interview, JKR was asked if Araballa Figg and Harry's neighbor 
Mrs. Figg were one and the same.  She said, "Yes."  So, although Mrs. 
Figg's role as "one of the old crowd" must have been limited as a 
squib, she does play a role.  
For one thing, she and her half-kneazle cats (Crookshanks is half-
kneazle too--that's why they are so smart) are an early warning 
system for Harry.  They can't do much to protect him themselves, but 
they keep an eye on him and if he's in danger, they warn the Order.  
We have two pieces of evidence.  First, their behavior in OotP.  She 
instructs one of her cats to keep an eye on Harry, and it alerts her 
immediately when Mundundus deserts his post.  Second, in Ch. 2 of 
GoF, Harry looks out his window at night and sees, "...there wasn't a 
living creature in sight, not even a cat."  Apparently, Harry is 
quite accustomed to seeing one of Mrs. Figg's numerous cats near the 
Dursley's house.
--Jennifer