[HPforGrownups] Re: I *HATE* Hagrid! (kinda long)

[Lady Macbeth]

No: HPFGUIDX 72967

Allyson Said:
>>> Ok, I'll admit that the Thestrals and the Hippogriffs were probably
fine, but that doesn't mean Hagrid knows what he's doing. He didn't
know anything about blast-ended skrewts when he introduced them to
the class, then just sort of figured things out as he was going
along. For all we know, that's what he does with everything. I for
one, am not convinced that Hagrid has any expertise in magical
creatures, caring for them or otherwise. He tried to raise a dragon
based on information from a library book for God's sake!

This topic got me wondering about something else too. Is Hagrid
actually in the OoP? Besides his role as Ambassador to the Giants?
I have to say that the possibility terrifies me. I think they are all
better off just letting Hagrid get loaded in his cabin. I can't think
of a worse person to trust with secret information. Another reason I
hope Hagrid dies in the next book. He's a nice guy, but honestly,
he'll end up inadvertantly killing them all if he's let into OoP.<<<

Lady Macbeth:
Actually, the "try it and find out" lesson is likely the most important
lesson those kids will ever get in Care of Magical Creatures.  Do you
remember every detail about every person, place and thing you learned about
in school?  Did you have practical, first-hand experience with most of what
you learned about?

If dragons are so illegal, I doubt very much that Charlie Weasley had any
firsthand experience with them before going into his career as a dragon
handler.  Plus, even if he was enthusiastic enough to really remember
EVERYTHING he read in a book (a feat that even Hermione hasn't accomplished
yet) books can only say so much.

The blast-ended skrewts were a good example of just WHY you can't accept
that you'll never run into something you have no clue about.

What about the Ministry official carrying the firebreathing chicken through
the Ministry offices?  What was he, anyone in his Department, or even anyone
in the building in general to do if the thing got loose?  And how was it
captured in the first place?  SOMEONE had to be ready to handle something
unexpected.

While he does let some things slip, he also CAN keep a secret - he kept
Grawp a secret, even as he fended off questions about why he was always
injured.  He only told Harry and Hermione about him when it became apparent
that he was NOT going to be at Hogwarts much longer, and that other staff
were in danger too - possibly he and Dumbledore were the only ones who knew
about the giant in the woods, as anyone else would likely have had him
removed, and Umbridge, being the toad that she is, would have likely had him
destroyed just for being a giant.

Maybe he doesn't have the "formal education" that others have, but he has
many, many years of first-hand experience.  Percy Weasley is WONDERFULLY
book smart (all of his OWLs, his job at the Ministry) and where has that
gotten him?  Right up there with the OTHER wonderfully book smart types who
know that the best way to handle anything you can't find in a book is to
stick your head in the sand.  (The titles out of Umbridges DADA book ringing
bells with anyone?)

-Lady Macbeth


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