The Betrayer?

[joeblackish]

No: HPFGUIDX 39947



I'm torn about the Hagrid inadvertently betraying Dumbledore 
theory. On the one hand, it seems like it HAS to happen. As 
people have pointed out before, that "I would trust Hagrid with my 
life," just SCREAMS for that plan to fail. 

Hello, Albus, could you be any less obvious about predicting 
your own death?

I know some listies don't like to get hung up on metathinking 
and authorial intent, but really, I think the way Dumbledore 
passes out second chances like chocolate frogs pretty much 
screams "You need to trust people! Learn from the wise old 
wizard!"

But on the other hand, Hagrid's screwed up time and time again. 
In fact, his drinking/foolish trusting/incompetence as a teacher/et 
cetera has caused a major problem in every single book. It 
seems to be a pretty major pattern.

There's clearly a tension between these two points. I think we 
can resolve it. I think Hagrid  can both inadvertently betray 
Dumbledore, and prove that he's worthy of trust.

Scenario:

1. Hagrid gets drunk and lets something slip, something that will 
allow Voldemort to get at Dumbledore and probably kill him.
2. Voldemort takes advantage of this and comes within about an 
inch of killing Dumbledore in whatever way Hagrid tipped him off 
to.
3. Hagrid sobers up and realizes what he's done, and nobly 
throws himself in Dumbledore's place, sacrificing himself to 
save D's life.

I love this because its totally in character for Hagrid, it still 
supports D's second chance/trusting philosophy, and most of 
all, it gets rid of that annoying clod. I really can't stand Hagrid. 
He's so boring. And such a big baby. I hope he eats it in OoP.

Oh, and for Dumbledore getting it, I'll put galleons on that not 
happening until late book six or early book seven, and then it 
won't be because he's been betrayed. He'll decide it's the right 
time and go face Voldemort himself. He'll die either because 
he's old, or because Voldemort plays dirty (you know that guy 
hits below the belt), or maybe he'll just decide its his time and let 
Voldemort kill him so Harry can get away, a la Obi-Wan or 
countless other older and wiser mentor types in myth.

On another note, I'm surprised at the puritanical attitude a lot of 
listies seem to have about Hagrid's drinking. I also think its 
totally inappropriate the way he gets drunk all the time, but many 
posts seem to take issue with the fact that he consumes alcohol 
in front of the children at all. Moderate consumption of alcohol is 
totally normal and healthy and shouldn't be frowned upon. 
Remember that Dumbledore himself has suggested imbibing a 
glass or two of sherry from time to time.

Joe, who's off to pour himself a glass of Maker's rocks, and 
does not intend to endanger anyone, reveal any deep dark 
secrets, or irreparably scar any pre-teens in the process.