Convention,Clues,andCats

[hermowninny719]

No: HPFGUIDX 83465

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Granny Goodwitch 
<grannygoodwitch613 at y...> wrote:
> 
> 22Oct03 
> 
> Hello everyone,
> 
> After reading the notices of the upcoming HP convention and the 
planned birthday party for Harry on 31July, I realized that our hero 
is a Leo, a cat!  This has started me to think again about all the 
references to cats and cat clues in canon:
> 
> 1) Harry's a Leo.
> 
> 2) He grows up on Privet Drive next door to Mrs Figg, a squib and 
cat lover and all of her cats.
> 
> 3) One of the earliest scenes in the series is Professor 
McGonnagall's appearance in her cat form (Book 1) on Privet Drive.
> 
> 4) Harry is sorted into Gryffindor.  More importantly the Sorting 
Hat wants to put him in Slytherin, but he insists on Gryffindor, the 
lion.
> 
> 5) Hermione is accidently turned into a cat by the Ployjuice Potion 
(Book 2).  Remember a recent posting on the list stated that this was 
possibly the scene that JKR wouldn't allow to be edited out?
> 
> 6)  Crookshanks' joining the HRH trio, and obvious affection for 
Harry.
> 
> 7) Physical similarities between Crookshanks and Mundungus, who was 
given the task to watch over Harry(Book5)
> 
> 8)  Harry's vision of Hermione covered in fur during the Occumency 
lesson, yes, this was strange 
> 
> Is that all, now?  The first thing that comes to mind is that cats 
kill snakes.  They're sorely missing in Voldy's crowd. Also, 
throughout canon, cats have an affinity for squibs (Figg and Filch) 
and Muggle-borns (Hermione, and Harry).  McGonnagall is the obvious 
exception, but some think that maybe she's Muggle-born.  My theory is 
that cats will somehow play an important role in the final war 
against the DE's.  What this could be can't imagine.  So come on, 
Dears,  let's have a little discussion and TBAY.
> 
> Granny Goodwitch  
> 


I had also noticed many cat references, but had dismissed it simply 
because cats are so closely associated with witchcraft.

Then this evening, while looking for something else, I stumbled 
across this quote quite by accident.  The following is from an on-
line interview at scholastic.com with JKR on October 16, 2000...

Q.  Is there something more to the cats appearing in the books than 
first meets the eye? (i.e. Mrs. Figg's cats, Crookshanks, Prof. 
McGonagall as a cat, etc.)
A.  Ooooo, another good question. Let's see what I can tell you 
without giving anything away....erm....no, can't do it, sorry.

To me that makes it pretty clear that cats will play an important 
role.  "HOW" is the big question.  Ideas anyone?