Hagrid, Dumbledore, & Second Chances (WAS Hagrid the Betrayer)

[bluesqueak]

No: HPFGUIDX 40171

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "cmf_usc" <cmf_usc at y...> wrote:
> Cindy wrote:
> <<<But instead, I'm asked to accept Hagrid as an authority figure 
> in Harry's life (one who breaks rules as a matter of convenience 
> and one who routinely exercises the most consistently poor judgment 
> of any adult character in the books), first as Dumbledore's 
> representative and then as a full-fledged *teacher.* I'm asked to 
> believe that Dumbledore thinks Hagrid's weaknesses are to be 
> tolerated. I'm asked to believe the other teachers get on with 
> Hagrid and consider him a legitimate colleague (I cannot *imagine* 
> why Snape doesn't hound Hagrid the way Snape hounds Neville).>>>
> 
> 
<Snip>
Caroline Writes:
> Yes.  You see, this actually sums up my problems with Dumbledore as 
> well.  Second chances are all very good, imho, but when you give 
> them, don't you expect some repentance in return?  Shouldn't
> the forgiven one make a good faith effort to turn away from 
> whatever he (and so far it's always a he in the Potterverse) did to 
> screw things up so royally in the first place?
> Hagrid doesn't seem to have repented.  His fascination 
> for "interestin' creatures" still causes danger for
> students, just like it did, oh, 50 years ago.
> 
<Snip>
> 
> That's what I worry about.  What is she *doing* with Hagrid? <Snip>

I'm beginning to wonder what full-blood giants are like. Maybe this 
is why Dumbledore is so tolerant of what would, in a full-blood 
human, be character flaws - because they're simply part of 
Hagrid's 'Giantness'. 

Thing that strikes me about Hagrid is his deep honesty - he finds it 
embarrassing to lie, if he's angry at someone he can't hide it, when 
he's upset he cries buckets. All his emotions are worn on his sleeve.

He also seems to find it difficult to understand duplicity - his 
problems with Fluffy in PS/SS were largely due to not understanding 
that a man in a pub asking about an interestin' creature might have 
other motives than simple curiosity, or a shared interest in 
Fantastic Beasts. Equally, after his interview with Rita Skeeter, 
he's genuinely puzzled that she seemed to want to ask about Harry - 
which is not what she'd said she wanted to talk about.

Ron describes the Giants as vicious (with one of his 'everyone 
knows' - trans. 'it probably isn't true at all').

I just wonder; if the Giants are like Hagrid in this utter honesty, 
they would find it very hard to deal with human lies and double-
dealing, would probably get angry at it - and if they're like Hagrid 
and unable to hide that anger; well, a 20 foot giant getting 
seriously angry could look pretty vicious.

It might also explain part of Hagrid's mum having left him; they're 
not very maternal, he's weaned, so his father can now look after him, 
why pretend to feelings you don't feel?

So part of Dumbledore's reasons for making him a teacher would be the 
feeling that it is now time for the students to start dealing with 
part-humans - and perhaps then some will learn to accept them for 
what they are, instead of judging them by human characteristics that 
they just don't have.

I would be fascinated if Snape did turn out to be part-Vampire; 
Vampires, of course, are 'predators' and Humans are 'prey'. Some of 
his casual cruelty might turn out to be as much instinctive behaviour 
as a cat making a little furry thing squeak. [grin] Mind you, on the 
whole I prefer Snape human and just plain nasty [even bigger grin].

Pip(still with computer problems - the virus scanner reports 'clear' 
though, so fingers crossed that it's telling the truth).