Hagrid, Riddle

[Audra1976 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 47955

In a message dated 08/12/2002 12:07:55 Eastern Standard Time, 
daniel.brent at cwctv.net writes:

Daniel wonders about Hagrid and Riddle:
> were they friends at Hogwarts until the Myrtle incident? Tom seems to be 
> the only one who calls Hagrid, "Ruebus". Does Hagrid know Tom was 
> responsible for his expulsion? And does he not call himself Ruebus as 
> a symbol of the lost trust he had with Tom?

If the events Harry witnessed through the diary really happened, then Hagrid 
undoubtedly knows Riddle was responsible for his expulsion.  I think they 
might have been friends, at least in Hagrid's eyes.  Going back to Riddle's 
statement that he's always been able to charm the people he needed...it's 
probable that Riddle befriended Hagrid as a means to an end.  

I can imagine Riddle sympathizing with Hagrid about both of them being 
orphans, about the parents who so unjustly abandoned them at an early age 
(Hagid's mother and Riddle's father), Riddle winning Hagrid's trust, 
exchanging secrets, Hagrid telling Riddle about Aragog.  That brainless oaf, 
Hagrid, is secretly keeping a monster in the castle.  This is information 
Riddle can use.  If something goes wrong, he can just blame it all Hagrid and 
his monster and get off clean.  And that's exactly what happens.

I like the connection you made between Tom Riddle calling Hagrid by his first 
name, and the fact that Hagrid asks everyone to call him Hagrid now, not 
Rubeus.  That could have something to do with it.  Whenever someone calls 
Hagrid familiarly, Rubeus, some part of him reacts with mistrust because of 
Tom Riddle, who may have been Hagrid's first and only friend, betraying him.  
Very good idea.

Audra


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