Hagrid in Knockturn Alley ( WAS: JKR hints at secret)

[kneazelkid]

No: HPFGUIDX 73917

l3al3y_Doll_3 wrote:
I've been reading the "JKR hints at secret thread", and something 
kept bothering me. Quite a few people seem to be in agreement the 
important scene might have been Hagrid in Knockturn Alley, and 
doubting the reason Hagrid gave Harry. Now, my question is, why 
would he have lied? Why can't it be possible he was there simply for 
the slug repellent? Professor Sprout was probably planning the 
mandrake studies during the summer, and asked Hagrid to pick up the 
slug repellent for her.

I guess my point is I can't see another reason for Hagrid being in 
Knockturn Alley, as well as it being crucial to the whole series. I 
mean, it's been three books since then, and it hasn't been mentioned 
at all. This doesn't mean I think the theories are wrong, I'd just 
like to know the reasoning behind them, since there weren't any 
given.
 
Can someone better inform me with their views on this please?

me:
Although this isn't very technical, I would have to say that 
something about that scene seemed off and stuck in my head. Hagrid 
IMO has a drinking problem and we know he gambels (won the dragon egg 
that way). These two habits don't mix well. They often lead to a 
person getting in over his head with the wrong sort. Because, in that 
scene, Hagrid seemed to be caught off guard by the question, I have 
always assumed he was lying. I immediatly thought, "Wouldn't most 
people need slug repellant? Why would it be something you'd have to 
get on the shady side of town?" Put that "off" feeling with the very 
real possibility that Hagrid might have gotten himself in some bad 
trouble and that's why he was in Knockturn. The trouble he might be 
in could reappear in later books -- like Bagman currently has trouble 
with goblins -- and could put the trio in the unfortunate and 
dangerous situation of having to bail him out.
-- kneazelkid