Just how important *is* this guy?

[annemehr]

No: HPFGUIDX 54453

Consider the following quotes taken from within the first five 
chapters of PS/SS:

1) [Vernon Dursey] found it a lot harder to concentrate on drills that 
afternoon and when he left the building at five o'clock, he was still 
so worried that he walked straight into someone just outside the door.
"Sorry," he grunted, as the tiny old man stumbled and almost fell.  It 
was a few seconds before Mr. Dursley realized that the man was wearing 
a violet cloak.  He didn't seem at all upset at being almost knocked 
to the ground.  On the contrary, his face split into a wide smile and 
he said in a squeaky voice that made passersby stare, "Don't be sorry, 
my dear sir, for nothing could upset me today!  Rejoice, for 
You-Know-Who has gone at last!  Even Muggles like yourself should be 
celebrating, this happy, happy day!"
And the old man hugged Mr. Dursley around the iddle and walded off.
(Chapter 1)

2) McGonagall to Dumbledore:
"Flocks of owls ... Shooting stars....Well, they're not completely 
stupid.  They were bound to notice something.  Shooting stars down in 
Kent -- I'll bet that was Dedalus Diggle.  He never had much sense."
(Chapter 1)

3) When he had been younger, Harry had dreamed and dreamed of some 
unknown relation coming to take him away, but it had never happened; 
the Dursleys were his only family.  Yet sometimes he thought (or maybe 
hoped) that strangers in the street seemed to know him.  Very strange 
strangers they were, too.  A tiny man in a violet top hat had bowed to 
him once while out shopping with Aunt Petunia and Dudley. ...
(Chapter 2)

4) Harry meeting people his first time in the Leaky Cauldron:
"Delighted, Mr. Potter, just can't tell you, Diggle's the name, 
Dedalus Diggle."
"I've seen you before!" said Harry, as Dedalus Diggle's top hat fell 
off in his excitement.  "You bowed to me once in a shop."
"He remembers!" cried Dedalus Diggle, looking  around at everyone.  
"Did you hear that?  He remembers me!"
(Chapter 5)

Have I missed any?

I know some people have speculated that quote 1) may refer to 
Professor Flitwick.  However, the violet cloak mentioned may well be 
the match to the violet top hat mentioned in quote 3), and Dedalus 
Diggle is also described as "tiny" in quote 3) (and I realize that 
this is going to spark thoughts of "maybe they're related," but I'm 
not going there, at least for now).

If these are all Dedalus Diggle (and three of them certainly are), 
what's he doing in all these places?  If it is really Diggle in quote 
1), why is he in Surrey when he lives in Kent?  In quote 2), 
McGonagall guesses he has been shooting of fireworks in Kent, but 
really, there are plenty of magical means of travel, so this is no 
trouble if it's true.  Then Harry sees him in *another* appearance in 
a shop in quote 3).  Could the meeting in the Leaky Cauldron in quote 
4) be just a perfectly reasonable coincidence, Diggle being certain to 
visit there from time to time?   

 I wonder if he could have been involved in setting up the protection 
around Harry for when Harry is in his relations care?  Then he may 
well have had a *reason* to come in contact with Vernon, and perhaps 
Petunia and Dudley too, though we do not see it (and if it happened 
while Dudley was kicking Petunia all the way up the street, screaming 
for sweets, she may well not have even noticed).  This would put him 
deep into Dumbledore's crowd.  He may drop into Little Whinging  from 
time to time just to check on things, and Harry spotted him once in 
the shop.  Even the meeting in the LC could be related to his 
responsibility.  So what if McGonagall thinks he never had much sense? 
 It seems wizards can be quite eccentric, and maybe Diggle is 
brilliant, but a bit mad (sound familiar?).  And that name -- Dedalus 
-- can he be some genius magical inventor?  Hmmm...

 But really!  Three or four mentions in the beginning of the first 
book, and then (as far as I can remember), nothing?  If Dedalus Diggle 
never shows up in a place of importance, I will personally *locate* a 
violet top hat and then *eat* it!

Annemehr
who nevertheless intends to keep plenty of ketchup on hand, just in 
case...