JO, Why was Mrs Figg was a Non-Event?

[hickengruendler]

No: HPFGUIDX 132600

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Hagrid" <aussie_lol at y...> 
wrote:
> The biggest disappointment from the books so far was Mrs Figg. We 
> would have been more disappointed than her parents to find out 
> Harry's babysitter with the cats was only a squib.
> 
> JKR nurtured that character, alluded to , titillated us , with just 
> enough information to deliver a great punch line that Mrs Figg was 
> really an animagus and the local support and protection for Harry 
in 
> his early years.
> 
> Many fans looked forward to JKR revealing Mrs Figg as a powerful 
> OOTP member, adept in the DADA. There was only one problem I can 
see 
> that could strip Figg of her powers – we guessed the punch-line.
> 
> You know when you share tall tales around camp-fires? The story 
> teller gets to the climax and says, "And you know what happened 
next 
> 
?" –And then someone guess the conclusion – the story teller 
> says, "No, that's not what happens. Actually, 
 " and then stalls 
> for time while he tries to come up with an alternative result.
> 
> Jo, face it. Someone somewhere will pick many of the plots and 
> surprises. Stay true to the story you want to tell, because even if 
> we guess a line of thought, a line is just ONE dimension. You fill 
> the characters out to be 3 dimensional (or 4 dimensional if time 
> turners are used).
> 
> There are many characters that have been developed throughout the 
> first 5 (now 6) books. Don't let others steal your preferred plots 
> and twists. That includes those away from Hogwarts:-
> 
> Bill; Charlie; Percy; Fred & George; Norbert; Grindalwald; Tonks; 
> Moody; Rosemerta; Fleur; Viktor; Mde. Maxime; flying carpets; ...
> (anyone else care to add to that list?
> 
> I'd be disappointed if Book #7 last chapter was the only thing true 
> to Jo's prefered story ... Have fun with those characters you 
> planted somewhere. Don't just bury them under fertilizer.
> aussie / norbertsmummy

Hickengruendler:

Most fans also guessed, that Voldemort tried to kill Harry because of 
Trelawney's prophecy. And still JKR didn't change it. And I would say 
the reason why Voldemort tried to kill Harry is much more important 
to the overall plot than the idendity of Mrs Figg. That, plus there 
were quite a few theories before OotP, that Mrs Figg was indeed a 
Squib. In fact, I even thought JKR confirmed this before the release 
of book 5. While reading book 5 I was not the least bit surprised 
that Mrs Figg was a Squib, because this information wasn't knew to me 
at all. I totally started reading the book knowing that she's a 
Squib. It was only later that I realised that JKR never seemed to 
have said this, or that at least I couldn't find the quote, and that 
it just seemed to have been a fan-theory that I believed which turned 
out to be true by accident. But that does prove that this theory 
existed.  

Also, with all respect, I think in your post some of the readers' 
prejudices shine through. Obviously it are not only some wizards, who 
think that Squibs are less worthy than wizards, some among the 
readers seem to have the opinion as well. IMHO, Mrs Figg being a 
Squib who has an eye on Harry, makes her much more interesting and 
strong character, than her being some powerful witch who is a match 
for the Death Eaters. She is pretty much helpless against magical 
dangers, and still is there to do her best. I find this very 
admirable. Plus, it fits Dumbledore's way to give everyone a second 
chance.

Hickengruendler