It may be M.A.D. but it's mine

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 85906

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, oodaday <oodaday at y...> wrote:
> 
> Driving home from a long road trip I got to thinking about Mrs. 
Figg and who she was before she married. We don't know a lot about 
her except that she is a dotty old lady who was stationed to watch 
over Harry, probably placed there by Dumbledore. I doubt she lived on 
Wisteria Walk before Harry arrived at the Dursley's. The thing that 
struck me as the most odd about her was how did she become a part of 
the Old Crowd? Since she is a squib, she didn't attend Hogwarts, but 
obviously knows Dumbledore and has a significant position of trust.
> 
>  
> 
> Why would she be a member of the Order in the first place? Being a 
squib all she can do is blend in with the muggles. A witch or wizard 
who's taken muggle studies could be used for that. She wasn't useful 
when Harry got attacked by the Dementors. She didn't have a way to 
contact The Order until Dung came back. Yes, she communicates with 
her cats, and she uses them as spies, yet they can't do magic either. 
But, if she is related to Dumbledore, the head of the Order, I'm sure 
she has ways to contact family members. 
> 
>  
> 
> Introducing my M.A.D. theory. Miss Arabella Dumbledore.  
> 
>  
> 
> It would make sense if she were Dumbledore's little sister. 

<snip>

Geoff:
I think this is a fascinating thought. I have to admit that I have 
never stopped to think about one or two oddities concerning her 
position.

She was not known to the Ministry because they don't track squibs 
(OOTP). So, how come she was linked to the order? (re the 
instructions to Sirius near the end of GOF). And, again, how come she 
is sufficiently familiar to them to be used as a "Watchperson" over 
Harry? (OOTP)

I had carefully missed all these little items - I am obviously not 
destined to become a Sherlock Holmes type in my dotage. but, as you 
say, it implies a connection somewhere; I think that Arabella Figg 
must certainly be related to somebody involved in VW1, if not 
Dumbledore himself.

Intriguing.

Geoff