Stupidity: When Malfoy gets into trouble while trying to catch Harry with Norbert, Professor McGonagall dismisses his claims as "utter rubbish", and a "cock and bull story." To prove his story was true, Malfoy could have shown her the letter Ron received from his brother Charlie (which Malfoy accidentally received when he borrowed a book from Ron), which detailed their plan to deliver Norbert to Romania.
Continuity mistake: Harry buys the book "One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi", but later, the title changes to "One Hundred Magical Herbs and Fungi".
Question: After the incident at the zoo, on Dudley's birthday, Harry is restricted to his cupboard until after the summer holidays start (see beginning of Chapter Three). If Dudley's birthday is before the holidays, then why does Mrs. Figg normally watch Harry that day (except this year)? Any year when Dudley's birthday was not on a weekend, Harry could have simply gone to school as usual.
Answer: As I recall, Mrs. Figg had broken her leg so she was unable to watch Harry. The Dursleys were then forced to take Harry to the zoo for Dudley's birthday.
That is not the question. The question is why she has been watching Harry every other year, except for this time (due to her injury). If Dudley's birthday happens before the summer holidays begin, why has she been watching Harry during the years when Dudley's birthday is a school day? Harry could have just gone to school.
Thank you for clarifying as your original question was rather confusing. I was assuming that Dudley's birthdays were not celebrated on an actual school day, but later on the weekends and that is why Mrs. Figg watched Harry. I don't think Dudley would be staying home from school every year on his B-Day.
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Answer: Harry has already experienced a few magical incidents, as children from Muggle families usually do. For example, changing a teacher's wig hair to a blue color. If Dudley's birthday is on a school day, his parents probably don't want the risk of a problem at school. It's easier to make Harry stay with Mrs. Figg all day.