[HPforGrownups] Mrs. Figg (Was: Dursleys)

[Kemper]

No: HPFGUIDX 146232

On 1/10/06, Karen <kchuplis at alltel.net> wrote:
>
> kchuplis:  I found it most interesting that at the end of GoF when
> Dumbledore is
> rallying the troups he includes Mrs. Figg: Page 713: "You are to alert
> Remus Lupin, Arabella Figg, Mundungus Fletcher - the old crowd." There
> she is, listed right in with the Order of the Phoenix gang "the old
> crowd". Also, I still get the impression people feel she was "a hired
> gun" at Harry's trial, but obviously, she saw something. There she was
> "don't put it away!" and raging on and on about the dementor's. I think
> she was just a bad witness but she DID see the dementors or she would
> never have shown up to help Harry. Remember, Harry is shocked when she
> knows about dementors? He didn't say anything. Mrs. Figg just seems the
> most logical candidate to me.

.
.
Kemper now:
I don't think Figgy saw the Dementors.  I think she recognized a Dementor
attack and recognized Harry's attempted and successful defense against it.
Maybe she witnessed one or more in the past.  I've asked in the past, what
ever happened to Mr. Figg?  Was he a Wizard, Squib or Muggle?  Was he in the
Order, too, or did Mrs. Figg join the Order after Mr. Figg went beyond the
veil?  And how did he go beyond the veil: was it nature or was he pushed?
.
What I don't like about Mrs. Figg being the one to show Magic late in life
is that I think it would take something away from the power of her
character.  Yes, I'm sure JKR will make the Magic look cool and damn near
all will cheer when they read it, but I think Figg is powerful without being
Magic and I will be slightly disappointed.  It's part of her intrigue: a
member of the Order and the first line of Defense for Harry throughout his
time with the Dursleys.
.
I think JKR nixed Petunia, but it would have been poetic if it were her:
using magic to defend her loved ones who hate/fear magic.  The dynamic of
that aftermath brings a smile.
.
Just repeating myself.
-Kemper


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]