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

[John Kearns]

No: HPFGUIDX 132607

> > > aussie:
> > > 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.
> > 
> > Kemper:
> > Mrs. Figg is fascinating.  She recognized a Dementor attack...
> > She testifies at the trial and is looked down upon because 
> > of her lack of magic...  And she, too, knows she doesn't wield the 
> > power of anyone in the wizarding world... But it is Mrs. Figg who 
> > is the first defense against those who would ever go after Harry. 
> 
> Amiable Dorsai:
> She's also an illustration of the limitations on Dumbledore.

John K:
Don't forget, Mrs. Figg also gave us a really big insight into the 
Ministry of Magic, and into Dumbledore's relationship with them, too:

"We have no record of any witch or wizard living in Little Whinging 
other than Harry Potter," said Madam Bones at once.  "That situation 
has always been closely monitored, given... given past events."
(OP8)

This statement is LOADED.
-What was Madam Bones about to say before using 'past events' instead?

-Why was the Ministry tracking Harry?  They didn't know about the 
prophecy, did they?.  Was it just because he had defeated Voldemort?  
Did Dumbledore tell them something?  We had no real indication that 
Harry was being treated as special by the Ministry until they believed 
Sirius Black was after him, in PA - but this implies he's been 
important to them ever since he defeated Voldemort.  Why?

-It makes total sense now, but why did Dumbledore feel a need to 
position a guard in Harry's neighborhood that the Ministry couldn't 
track (why Mrs. Figg HAD to be a squib) FIFTEEN YEARS AGO?  Was his 
relatinoship with the Ministry always suspsect?  Did he worry it might 
become so?

And, seperately:
-Why wasn't Mrs. Figg in Moody's picture of the Order?  We know from 
GF she was part of the 'old crowd.'  Was she some sort of spy, using 
her Squibness and people's ignorance and prejudice to her advantage?

I absolutely loved what Mrs. Figg did for the plotline in OP, and I'm 
fascinated in what her story might be.  And her line, "Don't put it 
away, idiot boy!  What if there are more of them around?  Oh, I'm 
going to /kill/ Mundungus Fletcher!" is one of the classics of the 
series.

John K