Is Arabella Figg who she says she is?

[Phoenix_Fawkes]

if she did like i remamber how do you think she did mabye doin a job for... wait no cause madam pompery can fix that way fast i know mabye she just said she hurt herself so harry coulod get out of the house who knows? any ideas?


is it here yet? :banghead:

[Elangomatt]

We know that Mrs Figgs broke her leg tripping over a cat, so she was not quite as fond of her cats as she had been. One theory that is floating around is that she tripped over Crookshanks, and then sold Crookshanks to the Magical Mangerie pet store in Diagon Alley. The cat stayed there for most of 2 years till Hermione bought him at the begining of PoA.

[gred&forge4ever]

That makes sense :)

[Phoenix_Fawkes]

mmhmmmm mabye we will find out hopefully!

[i wish i knew]

In the end of book 4 dumbledore tells Sirius to get the old crowd: Remus Lupin,Arabella Fig, and so on. Would Dumbledore really leave baby Harry with no protection in a muggle village? That's not very Dumbledore like. Not when a death eater could come at any moment. If Figg is part of Dumbledore's crowd (most likely called thye order of the phoenix) that would be good protection. She also babysat Harry on Dudely's birthday. She broke her leg and then Harry geets to go to the zoo. Since she is a witch a leg could be mended like that. When Harry goes to zoo he does magic and learns he is a parsylmouth. She has cats all aroud her house. Witches have cats! She can't talk about the wizarding world with Harry because she would blow her cover. She tries to act as normal as possible.

[Hermione]

Didn't JK say that Mrs. Figgs is indeed a witch?

[marrapessa]

I also like the theory that Crookshanks is part.... kneazle? that smart kinda cat thing... argh, its in Fantastic Creatures!

[Ashkins]

JK was asked in an interview if they were in fact one in the same. She made comment to how quick the people who read the books are to pick up on that. (paraphrased) Maybe someone can find the interview copy and paste that particular part.

[Elangomatt]

yeah that is very neat.... I can't wait to see when it comes up. Fantastic Creatures is a very good read.

[nimbus2006]

yes harrypottergirl.. that is all of our reasoning too. I also think that JK told us we would find out all about mrs. figg in book 5. :)

[Essbee]

We will be finding out about her.

Though I don't believe that Mrs Figg is Harry's only protection in Privet Drive. There's some ancient magic there, stuff I hope we will also find out about in book five!

[Padfoot127]

well, we'll just have to wait for june 21 for it! does anyone know how much they'd be running for in america?

[Essbee]

Nope. They haven't decided how much it's gonna be in Britain yet either, as far as I know.

Anyone else know?

[Ashkins]

amazon.com has the book for 17.97

[Essbee]

Is that the RRP?

Bookers are offering 40% off the RRP, whatever that turns out to be. I guess I'll have to do a little shopping around to see which the best deal is...

[WhiteSlash]

No duh Mrs Figg is a witch. If she isn't, maybe I'll eat somehting gross, like an anchovie. Wait, I like those.

They're having a battle for the lowest price right now. I wouldn't order it yet maybe if you live in the UK or Canada. In the US, we're having party's at Boarders and B&N that night! The price is like 16.97 pounds.

[rela00]

I think someone has already said this on another post but I think Mrs. Figg is Harry's secret keeper. There no way Dumbledore would send Harry back to the Dursley's with Voldemort alive and kicking. He'd be dead in seconds. I think Mrs. Figg has been keeping Harry's where-abouts secret for the last 15 years. Either that or someone else has. Dumbledore said it would be there for now. I'm so excited about the next book. I'm 22 and getting worked up about a Harry Potter book! It's great. :)

[Laura Patil]

I think Mrs. Figg is married to that guy Mr. Weasley got the tents from in GoF. I mean, Harry did say that they were furnished like Mrs. Figg's house, and one smelled a lot like cats.

[Oddfellow]

English is going to be about 16.90 something (pounds-that thing that looks like an L) Yes they are the same person

[Cat]

Madam Pomfrey works for Hogwarts.

Maybe Mrs Figg didn't want to go to the magical hospital...? Maybe St Mungos is too far from that area.

[tizzy weasley]

hmmm...i think cookshanks might be part of hurting mrs. figgs, butmrs. figgs could've gone to the hospital...i dunno...weird.

[Oddfellow]

I could see Mrs. Figg attacking Hermione's cat. That would be a comical scene!.
She tripped over a cat.

Oddfellow

[jodiekins]

LOL, whoa, i never thought of that Croockshanks thing! It actually makes sense! cool!

[hplover_ginny]

wow but there where more than one cays right? and all those cakes ..maybe she has absolutely nothing to do with the hp story???

:bow: lizzie (lol)

[Bilbo]

Maybe Ms. Figg wouldn't want her leg fixed too quickly. It may look suspicious. Then again, maybe she fixed it herself and left the cast on -- for appearances.

[Qeomash]

Originally posted by Bilbo
Maybe Ms. Figg wouldn't want her leg fixed too quickly. It may look suspicious. Then again, maybe she fixed it herself and left the cast on -- for appearances.

That's what I thought. Either that, or she really didn't break her leg... Perhaps she was heading off to some magical event or place and needed an excuse when Petunia wanted her to take Harry...so she said she broke her leg and was putting up an act with a cast later on.

[cedric]

Hello people. i think thatb is a disguised she mad cause by polyjuice potion. polyjuice potion smells like cabbage and harry said her house always smelled like cabbage

[Emma]

Originally posted by cedric
Hello people. i think thatb is a disguised she mad cause by polyjuice potion. polyjuice potion smells like cabbage and harry said her house always smelled like cabbage


Hhmmm Maybe she is Snape. :rotfl: He is the one with all the potion ingredients.

[Ashkins]

Don't forget Mrs Figg was out on a walk one day with her leg in the cast when Dudley knocked her down when he and his cronies were outside playing.

I would like to see Dudley get pig ears from her ;)

[Ashkins]

It doesn't say anywhere her husband lives with her. Maybe that guy did get the tents from Mrs Figg. :)


There is a thread in the common room concerning the price of the book. Might want to take your comments about the price there.

[HbAznKyootie]

yeah, and if she was married to mr.perkins, wouldnt she be mrs.perkins insted of mrs.figg?

im guessing she's a widow, since there doesnt seem to be another person living with mrs.figg, and perkins just borrowed it from her.

[not a spoon]

i agree with whoever said that she didn't heal it right away because it would look suspicious. from what i gather ms figg is supposed to be acting like a muggle, and i KNOW the dursleys would be suspicious of such a swift recovery.
the crookshanks theory is really good... =D
here's a thought. didn't the weasley's tent in GoF smell like mrs figg's house? maybe there's some sort of connection there, although i'm currently too tired to ponder it much further.

[cedric]

Has anyone thought of why harry never gets harmed or anything. i mean i know there is dark wizards out there wanting to kill him. maybe they are using a fideluis charm and ms.figgs is the secret keeper?

[EvilMeghan]

That's what I was thinking too. But one of the threads (I'm sorry I can't find it now) poked a hole in that theory. It's too bad I can't remember what the person said....

Even is St. Mungo's is far away, she could probably apparate there if she needed to.

[dorcasderr]

I don't think Mrs. Figg really broke her leg...at least not by tripping over a cat. I don't know her reason for pretending to have done so, however. Perhaps we will find out. I would like to see a connection between her and Crookshanks, but harry was babysat at her house a lot. Wouldn'r he have recognized Crookshanks at the magical pet store? Besides, Mrs. Figg protected Harry, Crookshanks turns out to have protected Harry. Perhaps Mrs. Figg put him in the pet store with the mission of getting as close to Harry as possible. We have already seen how intelligent Crookshanks is, so it is not beyond the realm of possibility.

[crafty girl]

Is it possible that Arabella Figg and Mrs. Figg are not the same person? Did JKR say that they were? Maybe Mrs. Figg is a muggle relative of Arabella Figg. She could be anyone, really.
That's a pretty great connection between the cabbage smell in her house and the polyjuice potion, though. I've never made that connection! That could be a very interesting story twist.

[cbjedi]

"We know that Mrs Figgs broke her leg tripping over a cat, so she was not quite as fond of her cats as she had been. One theory that is floating around is that she tripped over Crookshanks, and then sold Crookshanks to the Magical Mangerie pet store in Diagon Alley. The cat stayed there for most of 2 years till Hermione bought him at the begining of PoA."

That's a really great theory Elangomatt. I don't know if you were to one to come up with that, but I thank you for posting it anyway. :)

Anyway, someone said there was a theory that Crookshanks is part Kneazle. Well actually it's not even a theory anymore, JKR confirmed that Crookshanks is indeed part Kneazle in a web chat so we know that to be true. :)

I for one don't think that Mrs Figg went to St Mungos. Isn't it a hospital for 'magical maladies' or something like that? That says to me that it's where you go if a spell goes wrong. Like for example when Hermione drank the polyjuice potion with the cat hair, or when Lockhart erased his memory. I think there's probably a different kind of magical hospital for more mundane problems like broken legs. My guess is that she broke her leg, got herself to one of these magical hospitals, had the leg mended, and then wore a cast to keep up the appearance of a muggle.

[Faye]

I don't think that Mrs. Figg actually broke her leg by tripping over a cat. She was probably doing something else with the "old crowd" that caused her injury, such as protecting Harry or hunting for former Death Eaters. After that, she slapped on the cast and made up the fake story.

It's also highly probable that Crookshanks has something to do with her. Maybe the Ministry of Magic has authorized the use of animals for survelliance of some sort?

[Auri DeMeer]

My theory:

Arabella ("Bella...") Figg must be a very pretty witch. She uses cabbage smelling polijuice to make herself appear as an old woman and disguise in the muggle world not to look suspicious.

I am sure Snape will fall for this pretty witch, who will take up the DADA classes, by the way.

...Really can't wait till June 21!

[Cat]

Originally posted by Auri DeMeer
My theory:

Arabella ("Bella...") Figg must be a very pretty witch. She uses cabbage smelling polijuice to make herself appear as an old woman and disguise in the muggle world not to look suspicious.


Why is pretty suspicious? Snape's no picture and he's a suspicious character.

[Auri DeMeer]

By suspicious I meant:

Arabella is a very well known witch in the wizard world - she's one of the order of phoenix, after all. Why would she live so close to the Dursleys?

She disguises herself and nobody - from the wizard world realizes who she is and what she does (to keep an eye on young Harry). She is sort of the keeper of the address of HP.

I hope to have made my point clear. I'm feeling rather flat today.

[dorcasderr]

I like the idea that she is indeed "Bella", that is beautiful, underneath...or inside her disguise as an old woman. But I still say she has been described as old from Harry's point of view so she may only appear middle-aged to adult Muggles. As to other wizards not recognizing her in haer Muggle disguise...even if she is NOT in disguise as far as appearance, Privet Drive in Little Whinging, Surrey is hardly a place that most wizards would frequent,,,

[familiar]

Maybe once you reach a certain age magical remedies aren't as effective anymore. Perhaps as your immune system breaks down with age the magical spells and potions that would would have healed her leg are only partially effective or not effective at all. The would make her useless to protect Harry outright, but she could just be watching out for Harry and reporting back to another person who could take action. Since Harry is already protected at the Dursleys by some powerful magic, Mrs. Figg may be all that Dumbledore felt was needed at the time.

[Auri DeMeer]

Dorcasderr: as to Privet Drive, Surrey... you know, these wizard fellows have spies everywhere.

[daredevildiver13]

I never read Fantastic Beasts and where to find them. Can someone explain what a kneazle is?

[Weatherby]

I've read theories on this forum that her cats are animagis.
If so did they trip her deliberately? They were sick of posing for pictures and formed a plan to put her out!
I don't believe that theory but it's a thought.

[cbjedi]

What's a Kneazle? Here it is:

Kneazle

The Kneazle was originally bred in Britain, though it is now exported worldwide. A small cat-like creature with flecked, speckled or spotted fur, outsize ears and a tail like a lion's, the Kneazle is intelligent, independent and occasionally agressive, though if it takes a liking to a witch or wizard, it makes an excellent pet. The Kneazle has an uncanny ability to detect unsavoury or suspicious characters and can be relied upon to guide its owner safely home if they are lost. Kneazles have up to eight kittens in a litter and can interbreed with cats. Licences are required for ownership as (like Crups and Fwoopers) Kneazles are sufficiently unusual in appearance to attract Muggle interest.

And I can't see there being several more unregistered animagis running about. It's highly dangerous and dangerous and advanced magic.

Also, I think that the OotP is a highly secretive group, I mean after all we haven't even heard anyway say 'Order of the Phoenix' yet, Dumbledore didn't even use that term, he prefered to just refer to them as 'the old crowd'.

[arabella_black]

I would agree that She is probably a very pretty witch and that she was prob. a school friend of Lily.

Also that whole leg thing must have been a charade.

She would have known, from Dumbledore, that harry was only safe with Dumby or harrys RELATIVES. She might have wanted him to stay with his relatives cosVoldy couldnt touch him there. Why she would have wanted this was because she would have known through dumby that Voldy had left his old hidding place and was returning for the P.Stone and to kill harry. Harry would have been in great danger if he wasnt with his family.

She would have known all this that dumbledore through the magical equivalant of the internet which we will learn about in the next book.

[Elangomatt]

I never really knew what to make of the cabbage smell in the house, although I made the connection to polyjuice potion long ago. (might I point out that the tent the Weasley's used at the world cup smelled of cabbages as well). I never even considered that she is simply disguising herself to hide her real image. One question though, where is the real person that Mrs Figgs looks like (who is the old lady that Mrs Figgs looks like).

P.S. The crookshanks connected to Mrs Figgs theory was not my own, but I have no idea where it originated from.

[fuzzi95]

Arabella Figg must know sirius black, and that's why crookshanks is hanging around him so much. Dumbledore sent SIRIUS to go get her, so she must know he's innocent or else she would be scared of him! I think that's why crookshanks hangs around sirius so much.

[fuzzi95]

There was an owl fluttering past the dursleys window in the first chapter of the series. This owl must have been going to ms figgs house, and that's how she found out about the potters death.

Either this, or there are many other wizards living by the dursleys. I mean, owls only go out to hunt (nightime) or to deliver. Most times they are out to deliver.

[Knight]

There were plobably lots of owls fluttering around that night.

[Weatherby]

Owls, shooting stars, motorcycles, etc.
:)

Mrs. Figg is very curious though.

[Rowena Ravenclaw]

Kind of convenient that she happened to be living by Harry's only living kin when his parents were killed, isn't it? :huh:

Maybe there is more to Privet Drive than meets the eye.

[Weatherby]

If Figg isn't a muggle then Petunia was spying on the wrong runner beans.

[Elangomatt]

It could have been going to or from Mrs Figgs house, but I don't think that owl at the beginning of the first chapter means much of anything. Remember that on the news that night, they said that many many owls were sighted everywhere throught the day. All the wizards and witches were of course sending messages relating to the downfall of Voldemort the night before.

[GodricSlytherin]

YEs. Other wizards might live near. Or.....they have a secret village near HArry that noone can see...but wouldnt harry see...maybe that's where the order is? The owl could have been passing by privet drive trying to get where it had to go...which would be another small town.

[go_anna40]

The Figg selling Crookshanks rumor is pretty cool, and it would definately make sense.

But I believe that, she tripped over her cat, and healed it herself (I think she's a witch, I bet nearly everybody does) but asked for Harry's assistant just to get an update on him.

Or maybe she did break her leg and didn't heal it, and she thought it as a good opportunity, to see how Harry is doing.

But fuzzi95's post is pretty convincing.

[Snitch8130]

Dumbledore was down there by her at the time harry was delivered so why couldnt he have visted her why he was there? also dumbledore mentioned a special protection at the dursleys, could she be the special protection? and didnt harry say that he didnt like her?!?!?!?!?:??:

[Qeomash]

OR, the owl was just passing by. An owl passing by doesn't mean that it's going to the Dursley's next door neihbour and they're witch/wizards. It could have been flying to the next town from the previous town, and was just passing by Surrey.

[Steffie]

I was rereading GoF and a thought occured to me: What if Mrs Figg used the tent before (the weasley's borrowed a tent that looked like figg's apartment (even down to the cat smell)) ? What if figg doesn't live nearby but uses an empty house with a tent inside (I know this sounds stupid, but hear me out) and that tent was from one of the ministry members (of which the weasleys borrowed it for the world cup)? What if figg didn't break her leg in book 1 (so she couldn't babysit harry), but the tent was simply not available at te moment or she had some urgent business elsewhere. And the empty house has a mugglerepelling charm on it so the neighbours wouldn't notice it being empty.
I know it's very far-fetched, but it was fun thinking up possibilities to make it work.

[Aoife Diggle]

We don't actually know if Mrs Figg was living near the Dursley's before Harry goes to live with them. I highly doubt if she was, I think she was put in place there for 11 years to do whatever Dumbledore wanted her to do while Harry grew up.

[hproxvoldemortsux]

ya probly cuz if i wuz a wizard i would want 2 live as far a way from the dursleys as possible!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Aoife Diggle]

If I was a Muggle I'd want to live as far away from the Dursley's as possible!

[cedric]

all our questions will be answered whne the book comes out. thats a little two long

[arabella_black]

I think I read some where that JKR confirmed that Arabella Figg and Mrs.Figg were one of the same.

[MadMagic]

I also highly doubt that Mrs. Figg (if it is the Arabella Figg of the "old croud") would want to live in a Muggle neighborhood unless she had a purpose (ie watching Harry). I bet she moved in soon after Harry arrived at Private Drive. The owl flying by could have been coming from or going to anywhere on that day. Or the owl could have been Mrs. Figg. Maybe she an owl is her animagus form and she was just ariving to Private Drive to look over Harry. I mean Dumbledore had to be doing something all day, maybe he was arranging for Figg to come to Private Drive. But hopefully most questions will be answered soon...

[fuzzi95]

No, owls and cats don't really get along to well probably.....but it's still a possibility.

[DarkRa]

I had a strange idea:
When Harry drank the Polyjuice Potion it has the taste of boiled cabbadge, and Mrs. Figgs house was smelling like this. Maybe she's not old at all. Maybe she's at the same age with Sirius and Peter, and agreed to take care of Harry transformed into an old lady and using her cats as spies. Remember at GoF, 1st chapter, after the dream Harry opened the window and looked outside. It say that there wasn't anyone outside "not even a cat". Maybe that means that Harry was very familiar with the sight of cats around them, and it was strange not seen a single one and he pointed it out that way.

[MadMagic]

after the dream Harry opened the window and looked outside. It say that there wasn't anyone outside "not even a cat".
The absence of a cat seems to be a strange thing to notice. Very interesting...

[Spitf1re]

I dont think that not noticing a cat wasn't is a strange thing. Harry said that Mrs. Figg had all those cats, and I doubt that it would be uncommon that one would sneak out the door and wandered around the block.

[Bixie]

"Maybe Mrs Figg didn't want to go to the magical hospital...? Maybe St Mungos is too far from that area."

Can't you apparate with a broken leg then?:youwhat:

[fuzzi95]

I think figg is transforming, very good theory!!!

[Yadiami]

Yes, I like it too!! And also reminds me the new DADA teacher (probably Figg) who was rumored to have "something more" with old Snapey.
Although, wouldn't it be too much polyjuice?? I mean, it's unlikely we see more animagi (there have been lots) so maybe we won't see more Moody/Crouch-likes, at least at the moment.

[Puffskein]

I'm sure there was some reason for a witch who knows Dumbledore to be living undercover near Harry and babysitting him. No doubt it will all be revealed in OOTP.

[daredevildiver13]

I read the same thing arabella black. Thanks for the kneazle info!

[crevis56]

i doubt mrs fig was there the day voldy was defeated. I think fi Mrs fig is a witch then she would have been living there when harry had to goto the dursleys. Also did anyone think that Mrs Figg is in no way relate the Arabella Figg??? I belive Mrs Figg the cat lady is a witch however and is there to guard harry

[Auri DeMeer]

Quote from Elangomatt:

One question though, where is the real person that Mrs Figgs looks like (who is the old lady that Mrs Figgs looks like).


yes... Doesn't the name have an "S" at the end of book 1? (mrs figgS). Maybe the real mrs figgs was the old woman, the neighbour.

Pretty Arabella Figg (without S) drinks polyjuice potion to look like this old woman. Why, I don't know exactly, only theories.

[DarkRa]

Quote:
wouldn't it be too much polyjuice??
---------------------------------------------------------
I understand what you mean... It wouldn't be very creative. But, on the other hand why not? After all these illigal animagus in PoA there was another one in GoF.

[fuzzi95]

ya i know, jkr will probably surprise us with a new spell or something!!!

[dorcasderr]

It would be nice if all the speculation on Mrs. Figg could all be in one thread. Theories about her guarding Harry and using polyjuice potion are several places on this forum, but I have never seen the idea about the owl in chapter one, book one being a post owl to her, revealing her as a witch.

[applepie15]

I always thought that Arabella figg had something to do with Crookshanks,but I don't think that she tripped over her.

[Huntingdon]

Not quite on topic, but not really worthy of a new thread - I've just re-read GOF and there does seem to be quite an emphasis on the inside of the magical tents smelling like Mrs Figgs house. It's mentioned twice in a short space of time.

Sounds like she could be linked to the ministry of magic - the impression is that the tents were their standard issue. Department of mysteries?

[fuzzi95]

umm ok....cool, but which book will it be revealed in

[Puffskein]

The tent smelling like Mrs Figg's house is a cunning ploy by JKR to remind the reader of her existence. But I won't rule out that MoM idea.

[Phoenix_Fawkes]

Jk has something up her sleeve! Arabella figg will of course be an important role in book 5!

[Harvey16]

i got this from mugglenet this morning.

Mrs. Figg, Cats and Cabbages

Mrs. Figg's house smells like cabbages and cats. She makes Harry look at pictures of all the cats she'd ever owned. We know from an online chat with JKR that the muggle Mrs. Figg and the Arabella Figg Dumbledore mentions at the end of book 4 are the same person.
The Polyjuice Potion tastes like over-cooked cabbage.
The Apocethary in Diagon Alley smells like rotten cabbages.
The tent Mr. Weasley borrows from the old Warlock that he works with, Perkins, smells like cats and is decorated in exactly the same style as Mrs. Figg's house. (This has to be related somehow...)
Let's do the math:

Apocethary that smells like cabbage + Polyjuice Potion (which probably needs ingredients from the Apocethary) that tastes like cabbage + a suspicious person with a suspicious name who's house smells like cabbage = Mrs. Figg is taking the Polyjuice Potion to hide her real identity?

so what do you think ?

[Alastor D]

Mrs Figg has been discussed in several threads already.
But I think it would be enough to use muggle clothes (fig out herself as muggle) and live like a muggle. Taking polyjuice every hour in at least 10 years???? I wouldn't. And get rid of suspicious artefacts like tents.

[tabby]

I'll give you the tent one. I always figured that she owned it somewhere along the way. She could have been related to the old warlock that Arthur Weasley borrowed it off or something.

I'm not sure about the rest of it. Feels a bit "been there, done that" to me. I don't think JKR will rehash old ground.

[Dedalus]

I always get the feeling that her name was mentioned there (the references to the smell and decor of the tent) was just to put her fresh in our minds, but not too fresh, so that when Dumbledore lists those names a little light sparks in our head.

I don't think there's any closer connection, besides having old lady doilies and possibly incontinent cats. The cabbagey smells might be connected to potions in general, or else, perhaps, cabbage.

But why would she be hiding under someone else? An old lady pretty much goes where she pleases, and so she could use her own self as much as somebody elses.

[Alastor D]

Right Dedalus! There is absolutely nothing in the book suggesting that Figg ever was the owner of that tent. Just a too easy guess to jump on.

And just to show how easy it is to create theories out of nothing let me tell that Perkins and Figg are having a secret affair, and use to go camping together. And Perkins of course, as the gentleman he is, wanted his tent to be comfortable for Figg.

Ridiculous? Yes but perhaps no more than some other theories.

And back to the polujuice. Keeping someone hidden in the cellar for all those years to be able to take some hair for the potion when needed would be a cruel thing to do. Any friend of Dd wouldn't do that.

[Fuchsia]

Dumbledore wouldn't have put a high profile personage in the place of babysitter would he?
Nah she is a free person ready to do what she wants and free when the Dursleys call.

[hermiones mum]

Does the smell of the tent just suggest that they might be a tie between Figg and the ministry/wizard world.

Could she have charmed her appearance to that of an old person (hence the smell) a younger person asking questions is more suspicious than a chatty elderly person?

[Picko]

Well he might if she was there as safety for Harry, I guess we'll have to wait to find out but we can assume that Dumbledore puts great importance on Harry's protection.

[Alastor D]

Yes Picko. Quite many of us believe that she is indeed a part of Dd's Harryprotection program. And it has been said before that old ladies usually don't walk around on crutches two streets from home without a very good reason. But this is belief, we have to wait and see.

[Weatherby]

I hope we see Tufty, Mrs. Paws and Snowball again.

[pasalita]

Basically, with the approval Kneazle, I've merged all of the Mrs. Figg theories into this one thread since all of the Mrs. Figg theories diverge at more than one point.

Enjoy!

[Picko]

I hope we see Tufty, Mrs. Paws and Snowball again.

I hope so too, I bet they are all animagi. Perhaps James, Lily and Dumbledore's long dead great-grandfather. j/k :D

[Weatherby]

Did Harry ever have to stay with Mrs. Figg during the summer?
Her leg can't be broken for 5 years and Duddy's birthday isn't during the schoolyear.

[preludetoadream]

Ok this is my theory about Mrs Figg that I just sbmitted to the site:

Since JK has said Mrs Figg that looked after Harry is the same Mrs Figg that Dumbledore lists when he says to Sirius Black "You are to alert Remus Lupin Arabella Figg, Mundungus Fletcher -the old crowd." And has also said the new defence against dark arts teacher is female most people agree with the theory Mrs Figg is the new teacher, but I think JK has let these two facts out knowing people would think this. I think she has a bigger better shock for us all, Mrs Figg is in fact Harry's grandmother, and if you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Here is why:

I think when James and Lily where killed by Voldermort, James's mother was still alive. And as any grandmother would she wanted to have Harry, but Dumbledore knew if Voldermort where to ever rise, Harry would be a easy target with his grandmother. So instead he suggested that Harry live with the Dursleys, and to keep him safe his grandmother be a secret keeper for Harry's location, that way if Voldermort returned he would never be able find Harry. After all that was the idea of Peter Pettigrew being the secret keep for James and Lily. And who better to trust as Harry's secret keeper than his grandmother? Also by moving near Harry it would be easy to develop some type of relationship with him. Think about it if one day she saw Harry with the Dursleys and commented on how sweet he was or some thing, and said if they ever needed some one to look after him she'd help, the Dursleys would jump at the chance to have some where to dump Harry.

Some other things are, In the first book when Dumbledore and McGonagall are leaving Harry Dumbledore says it's the best place for Harry not the only place. Also when the Weasley's want Harry to stay all summer Dumbledore says no to all summer because Harry is safe with the Dursleys, which he would be if she is a secret keeper

In the name meanings, Figg means not literal, and concealing some thing. Which makes sense for two reasons, not only is she concealing Harry from Voldermort, but her Real name would be Mrs Potter, meaning her name is not 'literally' Figg.

JK has also said in this book we will find out more about James's family who better to tell Harry than his Grandmother?

The Dursleys hated the Potters so much they would have never known any thing about James's family let alone seen his mother before she became 'Mrs Figg'.

[gryffindorchik]

This seems to be something that most people have overlooked... Mrs. Figg either is married or was. We know that Arabella Figg (mentioned at the end of book 4 in part of the "old crowd," which I'm sure you all know) and The Mrs. Figg that watched Harry are one in the same. It seems to me that if her husband were still alive, then we would have heard about him. Why couldn't he have helped her out when she broke her leg. It is assumably a weekend because both parents are at Dudley's party. He should be working in the summer, unless he took off for his son's birthday. So Mr. Figg could have watched Harry. So i am assuming that he is not with us. Assuming that the "old crowd" is being gathered by Dumbledore to fight off Voldemort, I think that Mr. Figg has a lot to do with why Arabella was mentioned. Maybe Voldemort killed him or something causing Mrs. Figg to seek vengance on his life or something (people do that, we've all seen the Princess Bride "Hello. My name is Arabella Figg. You killed my husband. Prepare to die."? Ha ha ha). Tell me your theories.

[Inkwolf]

Mr. Figg? Think his name was Newt? Newt N. Figg... :)

Yeah, I wonder if we'll hear anything about him. Maybe he became a Death Eater, so Arabella dumped him.

[ArabellaBlack]

My name makes this opinion all too obvious. I'm a firm believer that Sirius and Arabella Figg were in the same year at Hogwarts and were a couple, had something going on, whatever, despite the fact that there is very little evidence to support this. I just like soap-operatics, I suppose. I'll spare the elaborate theory, unless anybody would like me to elaborate :).
I'd like to be able to chalk up that "Mrs." to a common oversight. I call people "Mrs." or "Ms." depending on how I like the phonetic arrangement that day. Probably not, though, huh?
Whatever her husband may be, he doesn't seem very important to the story... or does he?

[Hermionefan046]

Well, good points!
I cannot really say much though.
There are a lot of threads on this subject, so I am guessing a admid will close it. I am really sorry. I posted a thread on Mrs. Figg too, and it got closed.
Well, welcome to the boards!

[Anne]

I always assumed that the "Mrs." was just part of her under-cover alias. I'm a firm believer in the idea that she has been secretly protecting Harry at the Dursleys' all his life. :shrug:

[GodricSlytherin]

Hmmm...most likely her husband died, or maybe he's part of a bigger picture we haven't been let onto. He might be evil, he might be a spy for Arabella and Dumbledore and no one else knows

[zora_domina]

I would never have ascribed Sirius and Figg in even remotely the same generation, let alone the same years at Hogwarts... I would say more of a teacher/student generation gap.

zora

Originally posted by ArabellaBlack (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=302625#post302625))
My name makes this opinion all too obvious. I'm a firm believer that Sirius and Arabella Figg were in the same year at Hogwarts and were a couple, had something going on, whatever, despite the fact that there is very little evidence to support this. I just like soap-operatics, I suppose. I'll spare the elaborate theory, unless anybody would like me to elaborate :).
I'd like to be able to chalk up that "Mrs." to a common oversight. I call people "Mrs." or "Ms." depending on how I like the phonetic arrangement that day. Probably not, though, huh?
Whatever her husband may be, he doesn't seem very important to the story... or does he?

[Inkwolf]

Originally posted by Hermionefan046 (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=302626#post302626))
Well, good points!
I cannot really say much though.
There are a lot of threads on this subject, so I am guessing a admid will close it. I am really sorry. I posted a thread on Mrs. Figg too, and it got closed.
Well, welcome to the boards!


Ouch. Well, this is actually about MR. Figg, not Arabella again.

The mods got a bit touchy about duplicate posts because after the release date was announced and the CoS movie opened, the board was flooded with newbies who kept posting the same things over and over...like 'What do you think Snape's mission was?" and "Will Sirius be cleared?" and "I bet ----- will be the one who dies in OoP!" and "Hey, do you think Mrs. Figg who babysat Harry is the same as Arabella Fogg of the old crowd?" So anything that seemed like a duplicate post was ruthlessly wiped out in the attempt to avoid having the board flooded. Sorry your post was a casualty, HermioneFan!

[sugarquill]

I agree zora domina, I dont think that sirus is any where near close to mrs figg's age. Also thinking of sirus as someone who would fall for a cat smelling woman is just not right! Imo Figg is a widow.

[Silk E Smooth]

I personally would like to see Sirius with a romance. And Arabella could actually be a younger witch that transfigured herself into looking older?? It's a theory. I like where this is going...more romance!

[periwinkle-blue]

Funny, I thought the old wizard Archie (the one who wore long flowery nightgown, remember ;) ) has more connection to Mrs. Figg than Black :) Archie and Arabella sounds more... er.. one of a kind to me.

[Alastor D]

You mean Mrs Figg couldn't bring her husband Archie with her to the muggle world because he's too stubborn to act like a muggle? And therefore they have to live separated. Cool!
However I prefer to believe she's a widow.

[Bouncing_Ferret]

Arabella and Archie does sound nice, doesn't it? :love: How cute!

But I think that its more likely that Mrs. Figg is a widow. Or something else could have happened to Mr. Figg - maybe he's in St. Mungo's, with Neville's parents! :(

[Inkwolf]

Arabella and Arthur alliterate, too...maybe Mrs. Figg offs Mrs. Weasely and becomes Ron's stepmum? :D

[Ghost]

Heh. I don't know about Mrs Figg but Mrs Weasley sure has a bit of a temper on her. I'm not sure 'old Mrs Figg' could hope to take her on and win! :p

I hope we do see a Mr Figg, would be nice to see another good wizard but I've a feeling he probably bit the dust 14 years ago...

[saz]

Maybe Mr Figg was killed by Voldermrot, but whats that got to do with Mrs figg protecting harry? Maybe he was a Muggle and just died of old age?

[NorthStar]

Ok, really wild theory coming..................

You remember in GoF that the boys tent Mr Weasley borrowd off Perkins at the office was described " Oddly enough, it was furnished in exactly the same sort of style as Mrs Figg's, there were crocheted covers on the mismatched chairs, and a strong smell of cats" .

Now, Mrs Figg was mentioned on the same page as this description appears, so maybe Perkins at the office has a strong connection with Mrs Figg? Mr Weasley mentions that he has lumbago and so doesn't go camping much anymore.

Could he be Mrs Figg's hubby? I know they have different names, but what if Perkins is his first name? We never hear him referred to as anything but "Perkins"

[hedwig7]

interesting theory... i wonder... i can't believe i didn't put that together myself!!! but anyways... im sure we'll find out in book 5

June 21st... where are you???:banghead: :'(

[Yadiami]

I like the Archie/Arabella theory, I adore his character, he's so funny and sturborn! It would explain why he isn't in the Old Crow also, he doesn't seem the type.
Although I have hopes on her being McGonagall in disguise (yeah, I know is very improbable, but you never know).

Thinking of it, Archie could be McGonagal-Figg husband, doesn't he? That would be interesting.
I really like that old Archie.

[supernatural]

wow- nice thought- though i think he's probably dead, but it hasn't been said that he's dead, so there is the possibility that he's alive.
And as for Archie- i cant remember this character- but maybe he's one of her cats that come visiting- i couldn't see two married people living seperately for 13 years if they're still in lurve?!!! if she is married to someone, it would be someone she could see frequently.

[Alastor D]

Thanks NorthStar!
Once before I tried, in another thread, to suggest that Mrs Figg:love: Perkins. But I don't think he is her hubby. Somehow I think Perkins is his family name. Just a couple old ppl having a cute little romance.

[DocHollidaywe]

it could be a sign of respect, and i think she left hogwarts long before Sirius and co. came to school, i imagined her around Moodys age

[jordmundt6]

We know she lives alone and there's nothing to suggest that she's been divorced. Connections to Archie and Perkins by age are predictable but maybe Perkins and Arabella are old buds from younger Ministry days or from ?ogwarts. Maybe they get together for wizard bingo night or whatever or exploding snap or some mored dignified version of it.

How is Mrs. a sign of respect outside of marriage? It's not like Dame. It's not Dame Arabella Figg as in Dame Judi Dench it's Mrs. Figg. Signs generally point to her being a widow. And she's described as old and frail, she must be closer to Dumbledore's age (even older than the Weasleys) and as I said before she and Perkins could just be social acquaintances.

[Puffskein]

It's a bit hard to say anything at this stage, before we see more of Arabella. I can see three possibilities: "Mrs" is just an alias; she is a widow or divorced; or Mr Figg is a muggle and is being kept out of all the magic stuff (and babysitting!).

[gred&forge4ever]

I agree that she is probably a widow. I thought Perkins might be her brother. While we are aliterating, how about Figg and Moody? Allistor and Arabella :love:

[Mayerlin]

For supernatural-- Archie is an old wizard dressed in a night-gown. The trio meets him while they are waiting in line to get water at the camping site during the Quidditch World Cup in GoF

Archie is having an argument with a Ministry official. He won't wear trousers because he likes a healthy breeze round his privates :rotfl:

Concerning the existence of a Mr Figg, everything seems to point out that Mrs Figg is a widow.

However, from book 1 to book 4, we had almost forgotten her, we thought she was just Harry's muggle neighbour and babysitter. Now there are strong hints that she is a witch of the old crowd and may be the new DADA teacher.

Coming from Mrs Rowling, I'd say anything is possible, she may be a widow or she may be married with one of Hogwarts' teachers or former pupils.

[jordmundt6]

Even if Mr. Figg were a Muggle, if he was alive and they were still married, we'd have seen him during the babysitting. There's not even a picture of him in the house (hiding wizard photos)? It's just ordinary snaps of the cats.

[supernatural]

thanks mayerlin- and i strongly agree- ANYTHING is possible

[gryffindorchik]

I had never thought of Mrs. Figg as having romantic affiliation with anyone. I assumed that she was old. Dudley knocking her over on his new bike makes her seem more elderly, doesn't it? However, it is interesting to do a little matchmaking before the book comes out. My bet would be on Perkins, even though it's a weird first name.

[jordmundt6]

Perkins could be like Sark on Alias, only identified by his first name. However, makes you wonder what Mrs. Figg's maiden name was.

[NorthStar]

I still think the tent business is somehow important - not earth shattering importance but something we eagle-eyed readers were supposed to pick up on. Otherwise, why bother to describe it in so much detail and make the comparison to Mrs Figg's house? After all, we don't see much of the tent after that description and the girl's tent isn't described in anywhere near as much detail.

[gryffindorchik]

Was the girls tent also from Perkins? I haven't read book four for a while just finished book 3 time #8 or 9. Because maybe if they were both his he had one that he had borrowed from Mrs. Figg and had yet to give it back plus his own that he lent to the Weasleys.

[harp230]

I believe that the girls tent was from Perkins also, but their tent did not remind Harry of Mrs. Figg.

Edit: I got the book now. Both tents are from Perkins. The boy's tent reminded Harry of Mrs. Figg through the croched covers etc and the smell of cats. The girls tent did not have the smell of cats. :bigtu:

[gryffindorchik]

The tents are definately a big thing, if you ask me. JK doesn't mention anything unless it has a major meaning. A lot of thing mentioned in book one or throughout the series have come up with great importance later. For example, Hagrid borrows the bike from Sirius Black, a name that doesn't have any signifigance at the time, but.. well we all know the story. To further emphasize, Scabbers in the first two books and even into the third was just a boring rat... nothing that she mentions has no signifigance. The Mrs. has to be the subtle hint that there is a Mr. Figg who will matter to the story.

[Barbara Kennedy]

I'm sure we will find that Mrs. Figg is related to some character we are already familiar with.

[Filius Flitwick]

I'll bump this up so the leg discussion can continue here....the other one will likely be closed or meged with this one.

[HP_WizKid]

Did anyone think that maybe dumbeldore and people (other wizards)may turn into cats sometimes at Figgs house,that'd cool.
anyway i think it'll really weird for Harry when he seesthat its Figg ,wont it be strange though?it'll interesting to see how they act towards each other.
okay bye

[gryffindorchik]

I read a really good rumour in either mugglenet or mugglepride. You know how Mrs. Figg's house always smells like cabbage. And the polyjuice potion smells like overcooked cabbage. Maybe Mrs. Figg is allowing Dumbledore to polyjuice himself into her body and she hangs around as a cat animagus. This theory does have some loopholes though. When Mrs. Figg tripped over one of her cats and broke her leg, it says she wasn't too fond of them after that. Even if Mrs. Figg was herself, she wouldn't really be mad at her cats would she? Especially if she were one of them every once in a while (when babysitting Harry, I assume). Just something to ponder, add your thoughts.

[Shells Bells]

Originally posted by ArabellaBlack (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=302625#post302625))
My name makes this opinion all too obvious. I'm a firm believer that Sirius and Arabella Figg were in the same year at Hogwarts and were a couple, had something going on, whatever, despite the fact that there is very little evidence to support this. I just like soap-operatics, I suppose. I'll spare the elaborate theory, unless anybody would like me to elaborate :).
I'd like to be able to chalk up that "Mrs." to a common oversight. I call people "Mrs." or "Ms." depending on how I like the phonetic arrangement that day. Probably not, though, huh?
Whatever her husband may be, he doesn't seem very important to the story... or does he?


I happen to agree with you. Though my theory is that Mrs. Figg is Harry's missing Godmother. We all know that Sirius is Harry's God Father but there should be a God Mother out there somewhere. I wouldn't mind hearing your theory. So feel free to elaborate.

I had another post going that Asked "What happened to Harrys Godmother" It might have been merged but if it has I haven't found it yet.

I also agree with you on the Mrs./Ms. thing though. I have my children call anyone remotely old enough to be a parent, Mr. or Mrs., out of respect.

[sugarquill]

Ok what if the Arabella Figg DD mentioned is old Mrs Figgs daughter. We dont know that the two Figgs are the same one.

[Yadiami]

Sugarquill: JKR said in a interwiew they were the same person:
Is the Mrs. Figg with all the cats in the Dursleys' neighborhood the same Arabella Figg that Dumbledore mentioned at the end of book 4?
Well spotted!

From Scholastic Online Chat Transcript (http://www.mugglenet.com/scholchat2.shtml) October 6, 2000

[sugarquill]

Yes 'well spotted' could reffer to the connection not the acuracy of the statment. Afterall JK loves to lead us a stray.

[Cat]

Originally posted by Shells Bells (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=321138#post321138))
We all know that Sirius is Harry's God Father but there should be a God Mother out there somewhere.


You don't have to have both a godfather AND a godmother. Many people don't. In fact, you can have five godfathers and no godmother if that's the way your parents chose it.

[Barbara Kennedy]

I wonder if Mrs. Figg was always at her home and whether she used an owl to make reports or did she make regular trips to report on Harry's safety?

[Alastor D]

There are disadvantages involved in both. An owl can be spotted by a muggle and during trips she would be far away for a while. Maybe she used 'talking head in the fireplace'.

[Barbara Kennedy]

Yes, I forgot about that option. Thank you Alastor D.

[Arabella]

Here's my theory on Arabella Figg. It's a bit bizzare but bare with me lol. I'm guessing that it's because of Mrs Figg that DD knew where in Privet dr Harry was at, ex: cupboard under the stairs, smallest bedroom, at sea..etc... I think Mrs Figg is none other than the spider that Harry flicked off his sock in the first chapter of PS.
As for the broken leg I think that maybe she felt sorry for Harry that he never got too go anywhere and faked her broken leg so Harry could go too the zoo.

[Alastor D]

Let's hope Ron never finds out.

[gryffindorchik]

Arabella - I really like your theory. That would be just like JK to sneak that in without anyone knowing (except you, of course, bravo). So did she stow away on their trip out to sea? How did she contact Dumbledore? Sorry if I sound skeptical. It really is one of the best theories I've heard.

[Arabella]

Don't worry about sounding skeptical gryffindorchik, i'm skeptical of it myself haha. While she was on Privet Dr. I would think that she would scurry home as a spider and send an owl to DD after she returned to her human self. Not sure how she would do it while at sea really.
I started thinking of how DD seems to know where Harry is every second. There are lots of wizards and witches and I doubt DD or anyone at hogwarts know of their whereabouts 24/7 like they do with Harry. So I came up with the spider scenario, maybe Mrs Figg is a spider in animagus form. That is of course assuming she is an animagus. Still lots of holes in my theory, but I need something to do while i'm waiting for book 5 lol.

[DarkRa]

I read a really good rumour in either mugglenet or mugglepride. You know how Mrs. Figg's house always smells like cabbage. And the polyjuice potion smells like overcooked cabbage. Maybe Mrs. Figg is allowing Dumbledore to polyjuice himself into her body and she hangs around as a cat animagus. This theory does have some loopholes though. When Mrs. Figg tripped over one of her cats and broke her leg, it says she wasn't too fond of them after that. Even if Mrs. Figg was herself, she wouldn't really be mad at her cats would she? Especially if she were one of them every once in a while (when babysitting Harry, I assume). Just something to ponder, add your thoughts.

I don't agree about Mrs Figg been mad with her cats. The book doesn't say anywhere she was actually mad with them. It was Harry's thought she might been because she didn't show him the photoalbums.

Here's my theory on Arabella Figg. It's a bit bizzare but bare with me lol. I'm guessing that it's because of Mrs Figg that DD knew where in Privet dr Harry was at, ex: cupboard under the stairs, smallest bedroom, at sea..etc... I think Mrs Figg is none other than the spider that Harry flicked off his sock in the first chapter of PS.

Don't forget that JKR have said that, the animal you are transformed at as an animagus depents on your character. What kind of person would have herself transformed into a spider? Not a pleasant one for sure...

[Arabella]

Hmm, the spider animagus could work if it turns out that Mrs Figg is the one with the personality like poisoned honey. We don't know much about her yet, other than she showed Harry photo albums of cats, broke her leg, stopped showing Harry the photo albums and gave Harry stale cake.
That's the thing I like about JK's writing style the most, you can guess for a million years about the plot but nobody even comes close to what actually happens. Her mind is one of a kind.
Coming up with wacky scenarios is a good way to pass time though.

[Linnea]

I believe that Crookshanks was indeed the cat that Mrs. Figg tripped over, thus breaking her leg. Also, since it is speculated that Mrs Figg might breed Kneazles, and Crookshanks is, inevitably, part Kneazle, that lends more evidence.

-Linnea

[Alastor D]

But how didn't Harry recognice him then?

[gryffindorchik]

Alastor - I doubt that, even after viewing countless photo albums, would Harry remember every single cat mrs. Figg ever owned. But I do agree that Crookshanks is rather noticable. JKR probably would have said something about the familiarity of Crookshanks, much like she did with Nicolas Flamel.

[mrsmichael6300]

This one might just be out in left field, but I noticed something very strange while reading PS/SS and CoS back to back: the mention of cabbage smell/taste! Forgive me for not quoting directly; I don't have my copies handy right this moment (I'm at my parents' house 20 miles away from my own :p ).

Okay, so here goes: the first mention is in relation to Mrs. Figg's house -- Harry has just found that she can't take him because she has broken her leg and he thinks that he doesn't it like it there because she shows him endless pictures of her cats and HER HOUSE SMELLS LIKE OLD CABBAGE.

Reference #2: when Harry drinks the polyjuice potion, it reminds him of OLD CABBAGE.

So an epiphany (perhaps not even a correct one) struck me just now: what if Arabella Figg's house smells like old cabbages because of polyjuice potion? Or is it that JKR just associates cabbage smell/taste with old people and/or nasty things, like it's the worst thing she can think of?

Any ideas here, or do I need to go back into the hole from whence I came? :cool:

[Sherlock Holmes]

Hmm, interesting idea. I would think it's probably just a coincidence, or that JKR thinks of old cabbage as a particularly nasty smell. Mrs. Figg would've been drinking Polyjuice Potion for 15 years, on the hour, every hour: that's a very long time to drink Polyjuice Potion, don't you think?

[Henduri]

maybe she has it made just incase she needs to hide harry? or like make him look different, or maybe on the weekends she likes to turn into a sexy 18year old, named lindsey lohanh

[Katy Kedevra]

Hmm, interesting idea. I would think it's probably just a coincidence, or that JKR thinks of old cabbage as a particularly nasty smell. Mrs. Figg would've been drinking Polyjuice Potion for 15 years, on the hour, every hour: that's a very long time to drink Polyjuice Potion, don't you think?
She could have just drank it every time he came over, and that's why the house smelt of it at that point. He only saw her once a year.

or maybe on the weekends she likes to turn into a sexy 18year old, named lindsey lohanh
lol

Anyway, I think that this theory is quite interesting, but there are a few questions that it poses. Like, why is she doing it? Does Dumbledore know?

I always liked to think that maybe it was just potions in general that she was making in the house and that's why it smelled, like her favourite ingredient in potions were cabbages. But it would definately be a twist if it turned out that all along she was making polyjuice potions. Good catch! :tu:

[offca]

Harry felt the taste of cabbage, and her home had a smell of cabbage.

like SherlockHolmes said - just old cabbage is awful - both taste and smell.

[fleur magique]

Well, it wouldn't be the first time we were mislead about Mrs. Figg. I mean before OotP who would have guessed that she would turn out to be a squib.

Mrs. Figg would've been drinking Polyjuice Potion for 15 years, on the hour, every hour: that's a very long time to drink Polyjuice Potion, don't you think?

She may have only taken it if she was going out or going to see Harry, like when she would watch him for Dudley's birthday. And if someone showed up at her house by surprise then maybe she had some extra potion stored away somewhere so she could quick take some. And then thats why it always smelled like cabbage because she always had extra polyjuice potion around incase of an emergency.

The real question would have to be if she is taking polyjuice potion then who is she really? And is it that she is someone else trying to look like Mrs. Figg, or is she Mrs. Figg trying to look like someone else?

[dreamer259]

if she's making polyjuice potion, can she still be a squib, don't know really, but if this means that she isn't, which i think it would if true, she would have done something w/the dementors in book 5, unless it's secret from everyone, which i doubt, because people in the wizarding world have known who she is for a lot longer than 15 years, she was involved in the order before harry too, so i figure it's probably coincidence

[Stephie]

maybe she has it made just incase she needs to hide harry? or like make him look different, or maybe on the weekends she likes to turn into a sexy 18year old, named lindsey lohanh
You need something of that person you are turning into. It'd be kind of weird if a DE or LV walked in on two Mrs.Figgs. Agreed?

[Hali Felton]

despite the fact that this is a very interesting thread, and it certainly gets one thinking, do you realize we are talking about cabbage? :lol: or am i just the only one who feels very disoriented today and find this rather funny?

anyways, it might have just been a coincidence about the cabbage smell. maybe Jo just had writers block and accidentally used that idea twice. Because, you know, there are only so many things foul enough in this world to describe old people and bits of Goyle. Unfortionatly for cabbage, it resides within both catigories.

[hermy_weasley2]

Maybe Mrs. Figg wasn't drinking the Polyjuice potion herself. Sirius explains to harry in OotP that Mundungus Fletcher is very loyal to Dumbledore and that Dumbledore helped him out of some trouble at some point. Does it ever say how Dumbledore did that? I don't have my copy with me right now, but if it doesn't say how Dumbledore helped him then we can't be sure. So, what if Dumbledore recruited Mrs. figg to make Polyjuice potion for Mundungus so he would look like someone else for a while. Her frustration with him when he leaves Harry in OoTP seems to have built up over time. :shrug: Or maybe, she makes herself even more useful to the magical world by supplying wizards and witches with (black market?) Polyjuice potion.

[Picko]

This was a theory prior to OotP when we thought that Mrs Figg was using Polyjuice Potion to be a muggle. I suppose it's always a possibility but I think for the most part it's just another irrelevant detail now that we know Mrs Figg's identity.

[Classical_Wizar]

The Polyjuice could have been brewed in Figg house in case Harry had to be smuggling out of his house change him into someone else, or maybe for Aurors that were guarding Harry after all if the same person was following him, Harry might become paranoid.

[Classical_Wizar]

I'm guessing they can't but the potion could be made at her house since it is close to Harry they wouldnt have to drag cup loads in case Harry was in trouble.

[Pegasus]

You'll notice the tent they stayed in at the Quidditch World Cup looked and smelled like Mrs. Figg's house. We have yet to find out why that is, but I think that if anything was suspicious, Mr. Weasley would notice. It's an interesting observation, but I think Mrs. Figg is the woman we saw at Harry's trial.

[Barbara Kennedy]

These thread discuss who and what Mrs Figg is or seems to be.
What can Mrs Figg contribute to the Order? (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=11460)
Arabella Figg / Argus Filch similarities aka What's the deal with Squibs and cats? (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=11440)

Theories regarding Mrs Figg (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=6537)
This thread is in the archives. Very interesting.

How can a squib brew potions?
Do they go to a magic school? If not, where would they learn to brew potions?
Check this thread for that theory.
Squib Schools (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=27979)

[dark_kneazle]

My theory is that mrs Figg is McGonagall's sister. I know it's a very bad theory but look.
She married-Why she has a different last name.
How she knows Dumbledore.
She's about the right age.
She has tartan bed slippers.
And lots of Cats.

I know it's a long shot but still

[dumbledore150]

How would you explain the cabbage smell in the boys tent at the quidditch world cup?

[Alastor D]

It's possible that the reason for the tent reminding Harry strongly of Mrs Figg was only to remind us that she still existed and make sure we would connect her with the Arabella Figg Dumbledore mentioned later in the book. And perhaps even more so for readers who hadn't read the earlier books.

I don't know if that thread exists anymore, (try the links Barbara Kennedy gave) but it has also been suggested that Perkins and Figg were a couple and used to go camping together.

[Szymulation]

I doubt she drinks a Polyjuice potion. J.K. would have mentioned Harry thinking the Polyjuice potion smelled like cabbage before he tasted it, if so. But do you think there was a reason behind her saying she broke her leg?

[dumbledore150]

But do you think there was a reason behind her saying she broke her leg?


I don't think there is any significance in her breaking her leg. It only happened 21 pages into the first book. Unless it was to get harry to go to the zoo with the dursleys for some reason.

Don't know what the reason could be.

[Gordeldier]

Hey! I think that there is definitely more to Mrs. Figg than meets the eye. I think JKR said that there's something more to cats in the wizarding world and since Mrs. Figg has lots of cats, that could be part of it. I dunno if Polyjuice Potion would work on Mrs. Figg since she's a squib, but maybe it does. Perhaps, she's really Mrs. Figg but does undercover work for the Order by changing into other people with Polyjuice Potion.

[RELASHIO Rachel]

wow! I've never thought of that before..Maybe she doesn't drink it ALL the time, just the times she needs to go out? Who could she be if she's not Mrs. Figg? Is there any references to Death Eaters or something in relation to Voldemort smelling like rotten cabbages?? It's DEFINATELY not a coincidence, something that pin-point isn't just accidental.

I do like the idea of her making it just incase for Harry. But wouldn't Voldemort know if he was lying and pretended to be someone else? He does know legimence

[Barbara Kennedy]

Perkins, Potter and Professor Binns (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=11404)

This threads seems a bit unorganized, but it might help.

[dumbledore150]

Maybe she doesn't drink it ALL the time, just the times she needs to go out? Who could she be if she's not Mrs. Figg?

My first thought in answer to this question was dumbledore, but then I realised that they are in the same room at the same time at Harry's trial.

Filch???

Both are squibs, both have cats.
Unlikely, but its an idea anyway.

[ania]

The polyjuice potion has been used twice (i think?) in the series so far, I think it would be a bit too much for it to explain yet another oddity.

I doubt Mrs. Figg is using the potion whenever Harry comes over, because I'd think people would start noticing if once in a while, a different person lived in that house. Bit of a stretch, in my opinion.

As for the strange cabbagey smell, I've no idea why JK uses that particular wording. Perhaps she simply dislikes the smell of cabbages?

[dippy]

i dont' think mrs figg is drinking polyjuice potion.. how could she make it? she's a squib, and its a very complex potion, and i doubt she keeps the ingredients in her cupboard.... it's still i good idea but really unlikly, i think it's just a coincedence

[dumbledore150]

how could she make it? she's a squib

Good point. Never thought of that, I just kind of accepted that she already had it.
Maybe Mr Tibbles is an animagus:

In Book 5 mrs figg that it was a good jod that she put mr tibbles under a car nearby so he could let her know if mundungus left.

How would Mr Tibbles know what to do??

[gred&forge4ever]

i dont' think mrs figg is drinking polyjuice potion.. how could she make it? she's a squib, and its a very complex potion, and i doubt she keeps the ingredients in her cupboard.... it's still i good idea but really unlikly, i think it's just a coincedence


I don't think that squibs can brew potions either. If they could, what would prevent a nosy Muggle from trying the same thing? Perhaps she STORES in her house for emergencies for Harry. But as a squib, would the potion work on her if she ingested it? I'm not sure it might. Remeber that Muggles were being teated at Saint Mungo's, I am assuming that potions were at least being tried on them.

[HPprincess]

Although I do not particularly think that Mrs. Figg is using Polyjuice Potion, the idea is interesting. I'm pretty sure I read somewhere in the books that the apothecary itself smelt of cabbage. If I'm remembering right, then that means that she could have any sort of potion there. Plus, Figg means "not literal," so if you're trying to defend the Polyjuice theory, that would be a help.

[Incanus]

Maybe she doesn't like cabbage and that's all. :P Seriously, I think Mrs. Figg is just a squib that tries to help the Order and specially DD for some reason we may find out soon. I don't think she's much more that we saw in OotP, though I got I bit disappointed with her. When I finished reading GoF and DD asks someone to contact Mrs. Figg, I really thought she could be a powerful witch and the new DADA teacher. But she's just a squib. What can we do? :(

[dumbledore150]

We can't do anything, Incanus

[Emma]

Merged

[ania]

Good point. Never thought of that, I just kind of accepted that she already had it.
Maybe Mr Tibbles is an animagus:

In Book 5 mrs figg that it was a good jod that she put mr tibbles under a car nearby so he could let her know if mundungus left.

How would Mr Tibbles know what to do??

Perhaps Mister Tibbles is part kneazle, like Crookshanks? Magical pets are generally much smarter than 'muggle pets', how else can you expect an owl to understand you?

[Remus Black]

I don't think Figg is an imposter....she doesn't seem to have the cunning to think up a plan like Crouch Jr. did.

[Shauna]

We've already gotten a revelation about Mrs. Figg...I don't think she is sufficiently important to the plot to require another. :eyebrows: She seemed pretty adamant about being a Squib; she even testified that she was in front of the Wizengamot. It would be hard for her to concoct such a complex potion.

Shauna

[offca]

is there a potion enough? what if you need to have some magic inside to work? could muggle drink potion and change into someone else?
maybe squibs cannot use this magic, as they cannot use other kinds of.

[SquibOnline]

I have recently had a theroy about who Arabella Figg is. You can see the thread here http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=30329

[SiriusBlack22]

I think Mrs. Figg is telling the truth. Why would JK do that...? Make her look mean, make her look nice, and then make her look mean again. She's just a squib that was most likely appointed by Dumbledore to keep watch on Harry while he was at Number 4 Privet Drive.

[miss mcGonagle]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but what if Figg and McGonagall were sisters?
Heres my reasons for wondering:
Minerva can turn herself into a cat, Arabella is obviously a cat fanatic.
Minerva is (most likely) a pureblood, Arabella is squib, meaning she comes from a pureblooded family.
Minerva could be the link between Arabella and Dumbledore.
Lastly, while listening to the Ootp on tape, I detected a slight scottish accent in Arabella's voice, Minerva is scottish as well.

What does everyone think? Am I just blathering on, or is this a possibility?

[haggard]

dark kneazle:
you wrote...
My theory is that mrs Figg is McGonagall's sister. I know it's a very bad theory but look.
She married-Why she has a different last name.
How she knows Dumbledore.
She's about the right age.
She has tartan bed slippers.
And lots of Cats.
I know it's a long shot but still



If McGonagall visits her sister, does she go as a cat? What does she do in the off-term summer? Also watch out for Harry as one of Mrs. Figg's cats?

[Marcy]

Excellent theory as to Minerva and Arabella...

Ill have to go look for more links now!

[ikuko]

No, I do not think it is very likely... It looks like Mrs. Figgs have lived there forever, and when Harry first came, McGonagall was studying a map. Surely she would have known the area if her own sister lived there? There is a slight possibility that Figgs was moved there soon after Harry arrived, of course...

[Marcy]

Of course Mrs. Figg would have moved there after Harry if this theory is correct...but it is likely that this is the case either way. It seems unlikely that a sqib who just so happens to be in the OOTP just so happens to live where Harry is going to be placed.

She moved there ex post facto surely!

[arshia]

i think figg is a witch ( in other words i agree with hermione) :p

[Choices]

I think Arabella Figg is Dumbledore's sister. If she really is a squib now, I think she'll be the one who gains magical powers in her later life. She seems to be the only one who the Dursleys would leave Harry with. Maybe Petunia knows about her and was instructed by Dumbledore to only leave him with her when necessary so as not to make any other neighbors or friends aware of Harry's difference, and to report to Dumbledore if anything happened Dumbledore should know about. I think she really was a squib when she came to Harry after the dementor attack. She went to the DoM and testified for Harry. But she had been with the order when Voldemort was at the height of his power before. She was one who Dumbledore told Sirius "I need you to set off at once. You are to alert Remus Lupin, Arabella Figg, Mundungus Fletcher - the old crowd." (GoF,The Parting of the Ways.)
I think we will see a lot more of Arabells Figg in the next book.