Arabella Figg's House

• Type: Residence
• Location: Wisteria Walk, Little Whinging, Surrey, England
• Owner/Residents: Arabella Figg, Mr. Tibbles, Snowy, Mr. Paws, Tufty
• Key Features: Strong smell of cabbage and cats, cluttered interior, numerous photographs of cats.

Arabella Figg's house is a residence located on Wisteria Walk, a short distance from Number Four, Privet Drive in Little Whinging, Surrey. For much of Harry Potter's childhood, it served as his reluctant destination for babysitting whenever the Dursleys went on outings. Harry strongly disliked these stays, as the house was permeated by a distinct smell of cabbage and was overwhelmingly cluttered. The interior is described as cramped, filled with tasselated furniture and doilies. Its most prominent feature was the vast collection of photographs displaying every cat Mrs. Figg had ever owned. During his visits, Harry was often given old, stale cake to eat. Unbeknownst to Harry and the Dursleys, the house's mundane and slightly unpleasant nature was a cover. Arabella Figg, a Squib, was placed in Little Whinging by Albus Dumbledore to secretly watch over Harry. Her home was therefore a covert outpost for the Order of the Phoenix's surveillance mission, allowing Mrs. Figg to monitor Harry's well-being without arousing suspicion. Her half-Kneazle cats, particularly Mr. Tibbles, assisted her in these duties.

In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the house is introduced as a place of extreme boredom for Harry, reinforcing the bleakness of his life outside of Hogwarts. The dreary visits serve to characterize Arabella Figg as nothing more than an eccentric neighbour, which makes the subsequent revelation of her true identity more impactful. The house's significance becomes crucial in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. After Harry and Dudley Dursley are attacked by Dementors in a nearby alleyway, Mrs. Figg brings them into her house for safety. Inside her cluttered living room, she reveals her connection to Albus Dumbledore and the wizarding world, shocking Harry. The house functions as a temporary safe haven where Mrs. Figg explains that she was supposed to have backup from Mundungus Fletcher, who had abandoned his post. This scene is a turning point, marking the end of Harry's isolation and his re-entry into the affairs of the Second Wizarding War.

• Living Room: The primary area of the house depicted in the novels. It is cramped and cluttered with doilies, old furniture, and feline paraphernalia. It smells strongly of cats and is where Mrs. Figg confronts Harry after the Dementor attack.
• Kitchen: A kitchen is implied by the persistent smell of cooked cabbage and Mrs. Figg's ability to offer Harry tea.

In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the house's interior is shown to be just as cluttered and cat-centric as described in the book. The set design emphasizes a chaotic but lived-in space, filled with stacks of newspapers, dishes, and cat-themed objects, effectively capturing the essence of Mrs. Figg's eccentric cover identity. (film)