Hagrid and Dudley

[yolandacarroll]

No: HPFGUIDX 86236

gabrielle9578 wrote:
> Hagrid gave Dudley a pig's tail 
> and I dont remember the Ministry of Magic sending an owl to him at 
> all--like what happened to Harry on both occasions (Dobby in 
Chamber 
> of Secrets and his patronus in Order of the phoenix).
> 
> Plus Hagrid is not a fully trained wizard! 
> 
> Anyone out there able to enlighten me??

I can enlighten you :).

Harry's warning letter specifically said "underage wizards" 
and threatened to "expel" Harry from school.

Hagrid is an adult and he's already been expeled, so he 
wouldn't receive a letter threatening to expel him for 
"underage" magic.

However, Hagrid is not a fully trained wizard, so you 
would think he would get some kind of warning unless 
the law doesn't work that way.

I'd always wondered about Hagrid's status too.  Since, 
he does do magic, albeit sparringly, you have to wonder 
is he breaking the law or is there more to it than that.  
What kind of warning/punishment do adult wizards who 
have been expeled get (if any)?  We haven't heard
about that yet.

In PS/SS, Hagrid says now that he's got Harry, he's not 
allowed to use magic.  So, Hagrid was allowed to use 
magic up until he retrieved Harry.  Who gave Hagrid 
permission to use magic?  Dumbledore?  We learn in OOP 
that Dumbledore sits on some pretty high wizarding 
committees.  He could have the ability to give permission 
for Hagrid to use magic, although that wouldn't cover 
giving Dudley a pig's tail which is why he asked Harry 
not to mention the pig tail incident around Hogwarts.

Also, Hagrid becomes a professor in POA, after his 
innocence is proven at the end of COS, so it could be 
assumed that Hagrid now has permission to practice 
magic, although you would think we'd of heard of this.

In OOP, Mrs. Weasley tells the twins that just because 
they can use magic now that doesn't mean they have to 
use magic for every thing.  The twins still had a year 
of school left, but they were allowed to use magic.  
Also, they leave school to work at their joke shop and 
they didn't "finish" Hogwarts.  Since they're creating 
and making magical merchandise, they must be using magic.  
We don't hear of them getting into trouble.

Judging from the twins in OOP, one could assume that 
people who haven't finished Hogwarts are allowed to 
practice magic as long as they are of age and haven't 
been expelled.  (Umbridge did try to expel the twins, 
however I can't remember if she did or not.  Besides, 
it wouldn't matter, because her expulsion could easily
be overturned at the end of OOP.)

Hagrid's expulsion could have been overturned at the
end of COS making him an adult wizard who is allowed
to practice magic, but still not a wizard who "finished"
Hogwarts.

Not finishing Hogwarts would definately limit your 
career choices and carry a stigma, but I don't remember 
JKR explicitly stating that you have to finish Hogwarts 
to practice magic at all.  If I'm wrong, someone please 
let me know.

Yolanda