How Hagrid became gamekeeper [was: If DD knows, then why...?]

[JoAnna]

No: HPFGUIDX 94057

Carol said:
<<<(which begs the question of how a Transfiguration
teacher who was not yet headmaster could hire a thirteen-year-old
gamekeeper, and what happened to his predecessor, Ogg, but I won't go
there).>>>

JoAnna:

I'll go there!  :D

I'm guessing that Dumbledore was appointed Hagrid's legal guardian 
after Hagrid's father died in his [Hagrid's] second year, and that's 
how DD was able to persuade Dippit to keep Hagrid at Hogwarts (where 
DD lived) and *train* him as gamekeeper (a job Dumbledore knew 
Hagrid would excel at).  

Hagrid didn't *become* the new gamekeeper at 13 years old -- I'm 
guessing that he trained under Ogg, the former gamekeeper, for many 
years until Ogg either died or retired (perhaps Hagrid was still 
assistant gamekeeper at the time Mrs. Weasley attended Hogwarts, 
which is how she can reminisce about knowing Ogg in GoF).  

I remember that in PS/SS, after Harry has recovered Neville's 
Remembrall and is following McGonagall, thinking he's about to be 
expelled, he wonders if he could stay on and be Hagrid's assisstant, 
and pictures himself stumping around the grounds carrying Hagrid's 
bag as all his friends learned how to be wizards.  Likely this very 
scenario happened to Hagrid.

- JoAnna