Hagrid's Competence/Characters disappointing Dumbledore

[cmf_usc]

No: HPFGUIDX 34031

Commenting (& worrying) about Hagrid—-and characters letting DD down--

Jenny from Ravenclaw wrote--  <<You see, for a quite a while I've 
been worried about Hagrid. His blind loyalty to Dumbledore, his 
temper, drinking, lack of finished education... these are things that 
make me think some ugly things are going to happen because of Hagrid. 
He already has indirectly encouraged the Trio to behave 
inappropriately: <snip excellent examples of this>>

Unfortunately, I have to agree with Jenny.  I just have this feeling 
that Hagrid's going to meet his end in OotP.  First, because of 
everything Jenny said; secondly, I think his death would provide some 
interesting tension for the trio.  HRH would all feel deeply about 
this (and IIRC, R & He haven't really had to examine death so 
personally yet).  And Harry would probably pull away from them (some 
combination of *everyone I love is in danger* and *Voldemort used my 
blood to come back so it's my fault*)

Now, I don't actually dislike Hagrid.  Like others have said, I think 
we're supposed to see him as somehow *not quite grown up* because of 
his past.  During SS, though, I was pretty disturbed by the Norbert 
incident.  (And yes, I'm still bothered by the Karakoff incident).  
But for the most part, his love & support of Harry overcomes all that 
for me


After PoA, I started seeing a pattern—-characters who can't stand the 
thought of letting DD down.  I think this is why Hagrid let the kids 
get rid of Norbert for him (which, IMHO, is not as bad as Lupin not 
telling DD that Sirius was Animagus--& had intimate knowledge of the 
secret passages.)  Both characters feel like DD trusted them when 
others wouldn't


I think that with this pattern, JKR is setting us up for a time when 
Harry lets DD down (or maybe just feels like he has).  So far, I 
think he's only gotten praise.... Will Harry evade the truth like 
these other (adult!) characters?  Or will he have the courage to face 
up to it?

Any thoughts/predictions?

Caroline
(who doesn't actively dislike Hagrid, but still hopes he will be 
the "death that is terrible to write")