CoS scene.

[msbeadsley]

No: HPFGUIDX 80289

elizabeth1603 at y...> wrote:
> I agree with the person who said the crossbow scene was intriguing. 
> Just what was Hagrid expecting? I thought maybe dementors, but a 
> crossbow wouldn't hurt them, would it?

Dementors?  Dementors don't show up until PoA.  Oh, wait, you mean 
Hagrid already knew about them even if we didn't?  Yeah, that works.  
Sort of.  I think Hagrid was just expecting the law:

"Oh," he said, lowering the weapon and staring at them.  "What're you 
two doin' here?"

"What's that for?" asked Harry, pointing at the crossbow as they 
stepped inside.

"Nothin'--nothin'" -- Hagrid muttered. "I've been expectin'--doesn' 
matter --Sit down -- I'll make tea--"

When I read it, because Fudge shows up almost immediately (and only  
incidentally with Dumbledore), with the intent of essentially 
arresting Hagrid, I assumed Hagrid had been expecting the authorities 
to show up and drag him off to Azkaban.  The way Hagrid stared when 
he saw Harry and Ron standing in his doorway and then thought to make 
tea, I thought he was hurriedly ramping down the plan he'd formed 
earlier that involved the crossbow: "They'll never take me alive!"  
(Can't have a shootout with children present.)  Maybe Dumbledore had 
sent him an owl saying, "Get out of there, Hagrid, the posse's 
coming!"
Sandy, aka "msbeadsley"