what about Hagrid with Crossbow? (Was Re: Hagrid in Knockturn Alley)

[aja_1991]

No: HPFGUIDX 55438

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "grace701" <grace701 at y...> 
wrote:
> Mel wrote:
> 
> > I agree! I am pretty sure this is the "bit". There's absolutely 
NO 
> > reason for that scene to be in the book unless it's forshadowing 
> > and LESS for it to be in the movie when there are more outwardly 
> > important or cinematic moments that could have been put in its 
> > place. 
> > What, or who was he expecting? 
> 
> I've been wondering the same thing ever since I saw the movie this 
> weekend.  Maybe he was expecting Tom Riddle/Voldemort to show up?  
> It's the only thing I can think of.

Now me:

I'd never spent much time thinking about it, but a thought did occur 
to me in reading some of the theories on this subject.  Hagrid is 
expecting an enemy which either *can't* be dealt with via magic, or 
*shouldn't* be dealt with via magic.  Otherwise, why would he 
approach the door with a physical weapon instead of his wand - er, 
umbrella?  

I mean, Hagrid probably realizes that he's going to be viewed as the 
likely culprit in this, given the (fabricated) testimony against him 
by Riddle.  So, it's not unlikely he'd expect a visit by somebody 
from the Ministry to remove him from Hogwarts.  In canon (book and 
movie) it seemed Hagrid was extremely surprised that he was destined 
for Azkaban.  So it's not likely he expected a dementor to show up at 
the door, and I doubt a crossbow would offer much help anyway.

Clearly, Hagrid wanted to be prepared to kill *something* 
immediately, something he would not have the power to do normally 
with magic.

This is why I think grace701's idea makes a lot of sense.  Hagrid 
probably knows that whatever caused such havoc fifty years earlier 
was caused by Tom Riddle/Voldemort.  If the same things are 
happening, he must be back.  And if Voldemort appears at the door and 
knocks, he is not likely to ask his old school chum Hagrid to invite 
him in for tea.  And Hagrid isn't likely to be quick enough to disarm 
Tom/V with a spell.

No, I think Hagrid expects V to show up to silence him as one of the 
few who likely figured out the truth behind who opened the Chamber of 
Secrets.  And Hagrid, expecting to die, and knowing he couldn't 
defend himself or defeat V magically, was willing to take a shot (pun 
intended) at injuring/killing V nonmagically.  He could still be 
pulling the crossbox trigger as the green light flashes, and the 
arrow could still hit V.  I'm not sure if it could kill him whereas a 
spell could not, but it could sure hurt him a lot.  Or maybe Lucius 
shows up next to V and gets hit instead.  (Nice shot, Hagrid!)

The foreshadowing here could be many things.  (1) Voldemort can be 
killed, but *not* by magic - it will need to be a muggle invention 
like a crossbow or gun, something his immortality spells can't 
protect him from.  (2) A non-"pure bred" wizard will be the downfall 
of Voldemort.  (3) Hagrid will cause a "friendly fire" death in the 
future.  (4) Something Hagrid knows, or finds out, will be extremely 
critical in the coming war.  (5) Hagrid believes he will be killed by 
V or a DE, does not believe himself capable of preventing it, and is 
making sure he figures out a way to take some of them out with him.  
Or others I can't come up with...

Tangent thought:  why isn't it common knowledge that Tom Riddle 
became Voldemort?  Wouldn't information like that be really useful to 
the general public, especially clearing people like Hagrid who were 
hurt by the seemingly-perfect prefect Tom Riddle in the past?

aja_1991