Mrs. Figg (Was: Dursleys)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 146200

Gerry wrote:
> That [having Uncle Vernon perform magic] would be fun, true. But I
really hope it will be Filch. Imagine being a squib and being the
caretaker in a school where everybody is to control and develop that
wonderful talent you can never, ever have: magic. No wonder he hates
students. I think if he would learn magic, it would make such a
positive difference in his life. 


Carol responds:
First, I think the chances of having the arch-Muggle, Uncle Vernon,
perform magic, are absolute zero. JKR has told us over and over again
that the Dursleys are Muggles, and if "Dudley is just Dudley"
(interview) and Aunt Petunia has never and will never perform magic
(website), then Uncle Vernon certainly never will. At least I hope
not. (How could he? He's gotten angry plenty of times and nothing
magical has happened, and he'd never so much as touch a wand,
considering such things dangerous if not contaminated. And of course
he doesn't know any spells.

Filch, I agree, is a better candidate, being a Squib and constantly in
the presence of magic. And he certainly *wants* to learn magic, as
evidenced by the Qwikspell course. But he's also unpredictable and his
ethics are questionable. He believes in harsh punishment, even
torture, for students, and he admired Umbridge. And he's at Hogwarts,
while Harry won't be there, at least not for the majority of the book.

Mrs. Figg, however, is also a Squib (and like Filch, fits the "late in
life" requirement), and like him would know how to point a wand and
shout an incantation. As Harry's neighbor who keeps an eye on him, and
as a member of the Order, she may well be involved in the defense of
the Dursleys if 4 Privet Drive is attacked in the early hours of
Harry's birthday, as I expect it will be. That would certainly qualify
as "dire circumstances," or whatever the exact wording of the
interview was, and the adrenalin rush could trigger the residual magic
in her (the same residual magic that enables both her and Filch to
talk to cats). Somehow, I can't see her hitting a Death Eater with a
sack of catfood cans and surviving. But if she catches a wand that
someone has lost after being hit with Expelliarmus. . . .

At any rate, I like Mrs. Figg's spunk and she's in the books (and the
Order) for a reason. I think we'll find out what it is quite early in
Book 7 in the Battle of Privet Drive.

Does anyone agree? If not, what do you think her role in Book 7 will
be? Could it have something to do with Mundungus Fletcher?

Carol