[HPforGrownups] Re: Harry's shortest stay at Privet Drive

[Laura Ingalls Huntley]

No: HPFGUIDX 93483

Laura (me):
> <<<Yet, I was rereading PS/SS today, and noticed something:
>
> "The train pulled out of the station. Harry wanted to watch Hagrid
> until he was out of sight; he rose in his seat and pressed his nose
> against the window, but he blinked and Hagrid had gone." - PS/SS Us
> ed., pg. 87
>
> *Hagrid* can apparate! HAGRID! Hagrid, who got kicked out of Hogwarts
> in his third year, whose wand is in pieces in a pink umbrella, who has
> arguably shown less magical aptitude than pre-OotP Neville.>>>

JoAnna:
> I always thought that Hagrid had NOT apparated, but merely entered
> Platform 9 and 3/4, perhaps to take the Hogwarts Express, or the
> Knight Bus, or some other form of transportation back to Hogwarts.

It seems sort of unlikely that the platform which Harry took to go back 
to the Dursleys was near platform 9 3/4.  Plus, suddenly disappearing 
from sight seems to be a euphemism JKR uses often for Apparation.

JoAnna:
> As for magical aptitude, I'm of the opinion that Hagrid shows quite a
> lot considering the level of education he's had (and I sincerely hope
> that Hagrid, someday, can somehow get cleared of opening the CoS and
> get the Wizarding equivalent of a G.E.D., if one exists).

Mmm . . . I'm not sure I agree with you on this point at all, but even 
if that's true, the fact remains that Hagrid *hasn't* had much training.

This is sort of a personal thing, I guess, but I'm of the opinion that 
the training students receive at Hogwarts isn't *just* about learning 
specific spells.  Rather, it teaches the students how to *use* and 
*focus* magic.  That is, Hogwarts students don't just learn how to 
do/make certain potions, charms, transfigurations, etc, but how to do 
magic *itself*.  *Is not expressing herself very well*  Are you getting 
what I'm trying to say?  I know it's muddled, sorry.

Therefore, Hagrid is sorely lacking when it comes to having practice 
and knowing the *method* by which one does magic.

JoAnna:
> If Hagrid DID Apparate, however, there's no reason he couldn't have
> learned, if Apparition is a Ministry thing and not a Hogwarts thing.
> Unless there was a prerequisite besides being of age (e.g., passing at
> least one O.W.L.), there's no reason Hagrid couldn't have gone to the
> Ministry and obtained an Apparition license even though he'd been
> expelled from Hogwarts.

Hmm . . . I always kind of thought that Hagrid's expulsion *was* a 
Ministry matter on some level.  I mean, his wand was broken in half, 
and he seems to be forbidden to get another one or use any kind of 
magic at all.  Does the headmaster of Hogwarts actually *have* the 
power to deny a wizard from doing magic *ever again*?

In my opinion, when Hagrid was accused of being responsible for a 
girl's *death*, the MoM was responsible for deciding his fate (I do 
think they were severely influenced by Dumbledore, though).  There 
would have been a trial similar to what Harry experienced in OotP, 
where it was decided that Hagrid would not have to do *serious* time in 
Azkaban, but that he was too "dangerous" to be allowed to have access 
to magic (which, logically, would extend to Apparation).

Laura