historical notes : Hagrid, Azkaban, Dumbledore, Ogg

[Steve Vander Ark]

No: HPFGUIDX 18703


> > Arthur and Molly were at Hogwarts before Hagrid became 
> > the groundskeeper. I believe she mentioned the old 
> > groundskeeper in GoF.  
> > 
> 
> Actually, a small nit to pick here: Molly mentioned the caretaker, 
Apollyon
> Pringle. I believe this gentleman occupies the same position as 
>Argus Filch,

Molly mentions Pringle as Caretaker and also mentions Ogg as 
groudskeeper. So Hagrid wasn't the groudskeeper when Molly was at 
Hogwarts, although he may have been an assistant or something like 
that. He certainly didn't take over as groundskeeper at age 13 with 
no training. (Of course, he was allowed to take over as Care of 
Magical Creatures teacher at age 60-something with no training...but 
I digress...)


> 
> > Questions 
> > Did Hagrid go to Azkaban when expelled from Hogwarts? 
> 
> At first, I thought it was implied that he did. There's a strong 
subtext in
> the scene in Chamber of Secrets to suggest that he's been there 
before.


Even given the Wizarding World's atrocious system of justice and the 
prejudice against giants built into Wizarding society, I can't 
imagine that Hagrid was sent to Azkaban at 13 years old. I think he 
was actually expelled on strong suspicions and pressure from the 
Ministry to arrest somebody and get it over with. I bet he never had 
a trial, he just went quietly, so to speak, and everyone let out a 
collective sigh and forgot all about it.


> 
> > How long was Hagrid in Azkaban? 
> 
> If the stay in CoS was the only one, than it was very brief (month? 
weeks?).

>From May 8 until May 31. About three weeks. This is worked out from 
all the clues in CS and may be considered canon.


> > Was Dumbledore Headmaster for Arthur and Molly? 
> 
> Almost impossible. Dumbledore became headmaster the year the 
Marauders and
> Snape began at Hogwarts. Lupin alludes to the fact that it was only 
because
> Dumbledore had been promoted that he was allowed to attend the 
school

Right. Dumbledore became headmaster of Hogwarts c. 1970, long after 
Molly and Arthur's years there. They would have known him as a 
teacher, presumably. Dumbledore was offered the Minister of Magic job 
but turned it down, by the way. 

Steve Vander Ark
The Harry Potter Lexicon
which has a day-by-day calendar of PS/SS and CS (PA & GF coming soon)
http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon