Hagrid *Will* Mess Up (a bit long)

[cmf_usc]

No: HPFGUIDX 39745

Jenny from Ravenclaw asked: <<Is Hagrid just a loveable half-giant or 
a walking time bomb?>>

I'll second her time bomb vote.

Jenny's evidence: 

<<<*In SS, Hagrid is directly responsible for Harry's unpleasant 
confrontation with Voldemort. If Hagrid hadn't so blindly trusted a 
stranger in the Leaky Cauldron and fessed up about Fluffy, Quirrel 
and mini-Voldy would never have been waiting for Hagrid by the 
mirror. Hagrid has a big mouth and too much of a blind spot when it 
comes to "interestin' creatures". He was so eager to raise a baby 
dragon, he didn't stop to think about the odd circumstances of being 
given one. His Norbert escapades also caused Harry and friends to get 
in trouble, while Hagrid himself got off scot-free.>>>

Me: 
Oh yeah.  And what bothers me most, for some reason, is that last 
part; that Hagrid, an employee of the school, let eleven-year-old 
Harry & Co. take all the blame for smuggling that dragon out.  All 
those house points they lost.  All those weeks when no-one would 
speak to Harry. *glares at Hagrid for causing her Harry problems*  

<<<*In SS again, Hagrid, while responsible for Harry in Diagon Alley, 
goes to get a drink when Harry goes to try on robes. Call me crazy, 
but a man who is supposed to be watching a ten year old boy shouldn't 
go off and have a drink - or two. More on this later.>>>

Me: 
Nope, you're not crazy.  Not just any kid either, but *Harry
Potter,* 
walking target of evil. Oh, I know Voldy's not in body form at
this 
point, but Hagrid himself says he figures he's coming back. 
*And* 
Hagrid's involved with secret Hogwart's business at the
time—getting 
the Stone from Gringotts—the Stone that could bring Voldemort
back.

<<<Hagrid turns to alcohol far too often. This is definitely a 
dangerous weakness to have.>>>

Me:
Yup, I think all these mentions of Hagrid's drinking are bound to
be 
setting us up for something.  Sure, we see other teachers enjoying a 
glass of mead or what-have-you at special events.  But he's the
only 
one we see drunk, I think, and drinking so often.

Bernadette raised some interesting points, laying blame at 
Dumbledore's door as well:

<<<I feel that this is as much Dumbledore's fault as Hagrid's... He
put Hagrid into the position but I never saw any real teaching
support for Hagrid>>> snip <<<It's not as if Hagrid were a qualified 
Wizard who had been taught how to teach...>>>

Me: 
You know, that's very true.  In his zeal for providing second 
chances, Dumbledore does seem to give Hagrid more responsibility than 
he's really ready for.  Making that "I would trust Hagrid
with my 
life," quote all the more chilling
. 

Bernadette again:
<<<and it goes back to the fact that in a lot of ways, Hagrid has 
never actually grown up. He might be fifty-something years old, but 
IMO, his mental and emotional development stalled at Third year when 
his wand was broken and he was expelled from Hogwarts.>>>

Me: 
And he wasn't even the most responsible 13-year-old, was he?  
Hatching Aragog and all
  I wonder if Dumbledore really has so
much 
faith in Hagrid, or is he just dealing with regret and self-
recrimination over not truly realizing what Tom Riddle was?

Harry & Co. seemed to have passed Hagrid in the maturity department 
already, IMHO, but they're not the ones being given all this 
responsibility and being trusted with all these secrets.  I *want* to 
like Hagrid, because he loves Harry, and that's a big plus in my 
book
 but I can't really do it
 I find myself reading his
scenes with 
dread.

I looked up the symbolism of his name, to see if it gave any clues.  
As Rubeus, he's named after the ruby... the stone that supposedly 
banishes sorrow, and is good for the heart, brain, and memory.  Which 
fits his relationship with Harry well, but doesn't give many hints to 
his future..


Caroline, guiltily hoping Hagrid is the `terrible death to
write', 
and that it happens before he causes Harry too much trouble