Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, as it is the property of the talented JKR
Cats
Arabella Figg was seen as nothing but a crazy old woman to the people of Little Whinging.
She wandered around with her unruly gray hair in a ragged hair net, often wearing bedroom slippers and her too-long pale pink overcoat.
She carried bulging shopping bags around, and swung them towards the children who annoyed her in the streets.
And she owned all those cats that she adored.
No-one knew why she had turned to having these creatures as her main companions, and no-one was ever likely to be told the story, because Arabella didn't want sympathy from anyone.
The truth was, Arabella had had a pleasant childhood, until it became apparent that she was showing no signs of magic.
Her parents never told her, but she knew they were extremely disappointed. When she grew older and moved away from home, she barely saw them. Her older sisters - both of them - weren't interested in speaking to her, and although she still saw her parents, it wasn't good.
Their house was full of magical objects, and when one of them did a spell in front of her, they'd look at her sadly and apologise.
She knew she wasn't a part of that world anymore.
And there was no-one left for her.
Then she bought a cat. The cat was there all the time, it was dependable, and it liked her. It was good companionship.
So she bought another, and another, and another.
She washed away the pain of the rift with her family, but caring for her cats.