[HPforGrownups]Why can't Hagrid do magic? (was Hagrid Flew?)

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 43837

Heather writes:

> All right, this whole Hagrid thread started me
> thinking (a scary new thing for me!:)). Why, exactly,
> is Hagrid not allowed to do magic? Canon tells us that
> he's "not supposed ter do magic, strictly speakin'"
> and the reason is because of the CoS incident, but
> this really doesn't make sense to me. I can understand
> about things that require licenses, like apparition,
> but why can't he do basic magic?

Whether I've just always assumed this or whether there's actual canon for
it, I'm not sure, but I thought it was part of the bargain made by
Dumbledore when Hagrid was expelled.  That he would be allowed to remain at
Hogwarts, be trained as groundskeeper, as long as he didn't do magic.
Though Dumbledore often looks the other way when he does.  Good ole
Dumbledore. :)

> Heather, who thinks that keeping Hagrid from doing
> magic after his innocence is revealed is appalling.

I think the problem is there is no hard evidence.  The diary was destroyed,
we have Harry's word for it.  Though Dumbledore inevitably believes every
word Harry says, not everyone feels that way.  Without the diary as proof,
there is none.  Harry's word was proof enough for Dumbledore, that and the
basilisk.  Though the basilisk could be considered hard evidence, without
proof of the real culprit it's difficult for the simple minded (such as the
MoM, in my opinion) to "let go" of the falsely accused.

Richelle

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"May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out."
---- Lady Galadriel, The Fellowship of the Ring
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