Doris Crockford

[annemehr]

No: HPFGUIDX 115603


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, macfotuk at y... wrote:

> The one who bumps into Vernon is, if I am not mistaken, Professor 
> Flitwick no less (tiny, squeaky voice) - makes you wonder why a 
> charms expert would be just there, just then.

Annemehr:
This has never really been settled.  I was always one of those who
thought it was Dedalus Diggle.  The fact that he was (IMO) bumping
into Vernon, in a shop to bow to Harry (though he lives in Kent, one
county to the East), and at the Leaky Cauldron the day Harry arrived
with Hagrid made me wonder if he wasn't part of Dumbledore's
preparations for and watch over Harry during his years in the Muggle
world. I have a post to that effect somewhere on this list... Then OoP
arrived, Diggle turns out to be in the Order, and I'm even more
convinced.

Macfotuk:
> Indeed, the whole flurry of owls and gathering of witches and 
> wizards (many of who seem possible DD acquaintances) in the
vicinity 
> of the Dursleys the day after GH is distinctly mysterious. I feel 
> sure someone must have noticed/commented on this before.

Annemehr:
The owls, to hear the newscaster tell it that night, seem to have been
nationwide.  The magic folk out in broad daylight might have been
gathering across the country too, there's no way of telling.  I
wouldn't be surprised to find out that Arabella Figg had already been
placed in Little Whinging since around the same time the Potters went
into hiding, so she would have been the target of some of the owls
that flew by Privet Drive.  Another possibility is that Arabella was
sent there if and when the Death Eaters murdered Harry's grandparents.

Macfotuk:
> Am still dubious about how McGonagall gets there (Privet drive)
> almost first thing in the morning after GH and, considering Hagrid 
> is supposed to be the instigator of her presence and yet is clearly 
> in DD's trust and service and gets to GH straight after all hell
has 
> let loose there that McG doesn't know what's happened at GH except 
> by clearly hazy rumour.

Annemehr:
Yeah, that's a sticky one.  Perhaps Hagrid was only told that he was
to get Harry and (eventually, at least) take him to Privet Drive. 
Afterwards McGonagall, seeing in Hagrid's face that something was up,
got this information out of him, after which she was only able to
collect the rumors before going to Privet Drive herself.  She may have
expected a much quicker arrival for the others, being as much in the
dark about the "missing 24 hours" as we are.

Well, that's my working hypothesis for reading through that part of
the book, anyway. ;)

Annemehr
who dearly wishes the "who hugged Uncle Vernon" question would come up
in Jo's FAQs sometime