[HPforGrownups] Pondering Arabella Figg

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 56659

Pat wrote:

> I don't know about Secret Keeper, but I think she [Arabella Figg] is his 
> magical guardian.  Perhaps she's even related to him on the Potter side.  Part
> of the "ancient magic" that protects him while he's with his relatives?
> He would be protected at her house, too.  And is Harry protected while

The problem there is that she can't be very much related to Harry (unless she's an in-law and therefore no blood relation) because Dumbledore said the Dursleys were "the only family he has left now."  I do, however, think she was put there to keep an eye on Harry.  Not to meddle in what the Dursleys decided to do with him, or else surely she'd have noticed the child had no clothes that fit him, broken glasses, etc.  As for the cabbage smell, I think it was a clue.  Since it's in SS/PS that Harry notes the apothecary smells like bad eggs and *cabbage*.  I don't think Mrs. Figg's a polyjuiced anybody.  That's going a bit overboard on the polyjuicing.  

> he's at school because Dudley is there???  How ironic would THAT be!

Which would be interesting, considering the first time he and Dudley would have been apart was when they turned eleven and started back to school at separate schools.  But of course, Harry's off to Hogwarts instead!

> Why did the Dursleys trust Mrs. Figg, and no one else, to watch Harry?
> This is something that's puzzled me for a long time.  Surely they could
> have hired a local teen-ager to watch Harry when they went to the zoo.

Well, in PS/SS Vernon does mention calling Petunia's friend Yvonne, but she's out of town.  Uncle Vernon even goes so far as to suggest calling Marge.  But of course, Petunia reminds him that she hates the boy.  Basically it looks like Mrs. Figg's the only one who'll put up with him.  Not that he ever did anything (or meant to!).

> Something else that's bothered me for a long time!  Why is Harry more
> obsessed with his father than his mother?  Rather Star Wars-ish

I think it's just because he's a little boy.  Boys always have that stage where they want to be just like their dad.  And Harry, having never even seen a picture of him until he was eleven, is coming to that stage a bit late in life.  

Richelle


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